An amphibious landing exercise which involves some 1,400 US troops and 500 Filipino soldiers will be held on October 4 to 12, 2016 in Luzon and Palawan and Military leaders of the two countries have also started preparing for a new set of exercises next year but President Rodrigo Duterte wants it to be the last.
In a speech before the Filipino community in Hanoi, Vietnam on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that this year’s joint military exercise between the Philippines and the United States will be the last under his term.
“You are scheduled to hold war games, which China does not want. I will serve notice to you now that this will be the last military exercise,” he said.
“I’m serving notice now to the Americans. I will maintain the military alliance, the RP-US pact which our countries signed in the early 50s. But I will establish new alliances for trade and commerce,” Duterte said, adding that he won’t let the military’s gray ships take part in joint patrols.
Duterte said he is only allowing the upcoming exercise to continue to allow Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to fulfill commitments.
“Ayoko lang mapahiya si Defense Sec,” said Duterte.
He also spoke of his plans to visit China and Russia “to open all doors of investment.”
The Philippines have an existing mutual defense treaty with the United States but Duterte wants to forge new trade alliances with China and Russia. – JCE.
That’s my president, he is truly a leader, at marunong sumunod–sa China.
Oh boy! Now Xi got Du30 by his balls.