Philippines-US military exercises to be reduced

US Pacific Command commander Admiral Harry Harris (R), accompanied by Philippine military chief General Ricardo Visaya (L) salutes after the Philippine-US Mutual defense Board (MDB) meeting a the military headquarters in Manila. (AFP/Ted Aljibe)

MANILA, Philippines: The Philippine armed forces chief says five military exercises with the United States, including at least two major naval drills, will be scrapped next year at the direction of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Gen. Ricardo Visaya told reporters Wednesday that US officials respected the Philippines’ proposal to reduce the number of drills to 258, or five less than this year’s exercises.
On Tuesday, the two allies held a meeting of their Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board co-chaired by Visaya and Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., head of the US Pacific Command.
Visaya said the scrapped drills include an Amphibious Landing Exercise and Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, both major naval exercises that include territorial defense training.
He said exercises will be focused on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and counterterrorism.