President Duterte said he is open to joint military exercises with China and Russia, and reiterated he will no longer allow war games with the US. Duterte made the remarks in an interview broadcast yesterday with Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television ahead of a four-day visit to Beijing, which begins today and is aimed at improving ties that soured over competing claims in the resource-rich South China Sea. Asked if he would consider joint military exercises with China or Russia, Duterte said: “Yes, I will. I have given enough time for the Americans to play with the Filipino soldiers.” Duterte also repeated he would no longer allow joint exercises with the US, the Philippines’ main defense ally and supplier of military hardware.

Duterte open to war games with China, Russia. (2016, October 18). Philippine Star, p. 8.