MANILA, Oct 12 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday that he has instructed his defense secretary, Delfin Lorenzana, not to make preparations for any joint war games with the U.S. next year.
"I do not want it anymore," Duterte said in a speech at the Philippine coast guard headquarters in Manila.
"'Do not prepare' I told Defense Secretary Lorenazana. 'Do not make preparations for next year (anymore)'," he said.
"I insist that we realigned. That there will be no more exercises next year," Duterte said.
Duterte reiterated his plan to chart an independent foreign policy.
However, Duterte said that the Philippines will not break it alliances with the U.S., a treaty ally.
"But we need not really break or abrogate existing treaties because they say that it would provide is with the umbrella," he said, apparently referring to security umbrella.
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