US and the Philippines begin war games
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4 October 2016
- From the section Asia
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AFP/Getty Images
The war games are aimed at improving readiness to respond to crisis and deepen ties, the US military said
The Philippines and US have begun their annual joint military exercises, which the Philippine president has said will be the last while he is in office.
President Rodrigo Duterte made the comment last week, although later his defence secretary said there was no official order yet to that effect.
The Philippines, once a colony of the US, has a longstanding defence relationship with Washington.
But Mr Duterte has said he wants to establish new alliances with China.
He also said he would review a defence pact signed two years ago with the US that would see more US troops sent to the Philippines.
The pact is seen as vital for the US to counter China’s activities in the South China Sea.
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Associated Press
Activists demonstrated outside the US embassy in Manila against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines
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AFP/Getty Images
More than 1,100 US troops are taking part in the war games
The eight-day military drills involve 1,100 American troops and 400 Filipino military personnel, and are taking place on northern Luzon island.
They are aimed at improving readiness to respond to crises and deepening historic ties, the US military said.
The US said it had received no formal notification from Mr Duterte that they would be the final drills.
“We’re continuing to work with our partners on our bilateral relationship as we know it to be and as it has existed for decades,” an embassy official told Reuters.
Relations were strained last month when the US cancelled a bilateral meeting after Mr Duterte used insulting language to refer to the US president.