Two Thai F-16 jet fighters crashed on Monday during military exercises involving the United States and six other nations in Thailand's northeastern Chiang Mai province. 

U.S. Marines aid an "injured" Royal Thai Marine soldier (C) during a mock helo raid of Exercise Cobra Gold 2011 in Samesan, Thailand, on Feb. 13, 2011. Cobra Gold 2011 marks the 30th anniversary of the exercise, which focuses on basic military skills training, staff planning and humanitarian and civic assistance projects.[Xinhua/Pr. Photo Cobra Gold 2011]

Xinhua News Agency said the two pilots on board were rescued.

Despite the accident, the 12-day exercises, code-named Cobra Gold, will continue until Feb 18.

The maneuvers are just one of the many joint military exercises the US has held with nations in the Asia-Pacific region to show off its presence and military strength in the area, experts said.

The participation of Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia makes the 30th annual joint exercise one of the world's largest multilateral military maneuvers.

"It is an important part of the US strategy to boost its presence in the Asia-Pacific region," said Yin Zhuo, a major-general of the Chinese navy.

Yin noted that in the past two years, besides scheduled military exercises, the US has increased those related to sensitive issues, such as the ones jointly held with Japan and South Korea last year.

"Holding such military exercises aiming at fighting terrorism and natural disasters will help the US enhance ties with these nations and build up its 'soft power' in this region," Yin noted.

Costs on the battleground in Iraq alarmed the US, making it depend more on its allies including Japan, South Korea and Australia when returning to the Asia-Pacific region, Yin said.

It has also enhanced military ties with other nations in this region such as Singapore and Thailand, according to Yin.

Since the last Cobra Gold exercises held in June 2010, the US has held around 20 joint military maneuvers with nations in the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan and South Korea.