MANILA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said Wednesday two major joint exercises with U.S. troops will be scrapped and there will be 258 joint military exercises, including small ones, between the two sides next year.
The two scrapped war games are the Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX) and Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), two naval exercises that includes territorial defense trainings, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Gen. Ricardo Visaya told reporters.
Visaya said the U.S. officials respected the AFP's proposal to reduce the exercises based on the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte after talking with U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris on Tuesday in their annual Mutual Defense Board and Security Engagement Board in Manila.
"There will only be about 258 (exercises) I think. Previously, there are about 260 plus so there is a reduction of around five," said Visaya.
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