Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana disclosed that it was president Rodrigo Duterte who has asked him to move Philippine’s joint naval exercises with the United States away from the disputed West Philippine Sea, also claimed as South China’s, to repair Manila’s ties with China.
“We might move the naval exercises facing the South China Sea to Mindanao area to avoid annoying our neighbor, so let us be sensitive of our neighbors,” he said.
In addition, Lorenzana said it has been also decided to reduce the number of drills it holds with its long-term ally and former colonial master -the united States – after Duterte announced a sudden pivot towards China.
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