Philippines President: Upcoming War Games with US ‘The Last One”

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3txzzUz0vjQ]

• Published on Sep 29, 2016
  The Philippines will not hold any joint military exercises with its long-standing ally, the United States. President Rodrigo Duterte says next week’s war games will be the last such drills involving Filipino and American troops. He says the upcoming exercises will take place only because he doesn’t want to embarrass his defense secretary. According to Duterte, he has decided to scrap the annual drills because China is opposed to them. The controversial leader, however, insists that Manila will maintain its military alliance with Washington. Since taking office in June, Duterte has moved toward China in a bid to revive strained ties. He says he wants a foreign policy NOT dependent on the US.

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