Duterte to China: Philippines won’t join US exercises

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has assured China it will not join the military exercises the United States is planning to conduct in the South China Sea.

The naval drills, to coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Manila next month, were discussed at a meeting between President Duterte and Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua at Malacañang last Monday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

“China, of course, expressed concern over a naval military exercise that the US will be conducting in the area at about the same time that the Chinese president will be in the Philippines,” Roque said at a press briefing.

“The President said that we will not take part in that military exercise,” he added.

Earlier, CNN reported that the US Navy Pacific Fleet is proposing to conduct exercises in the South China Sea to warn China and to demonstrate its capability to respond to adversaries.

Under the plan, the US Navy would sail ships and fly aircraft near China’s territorial waters and Taiwan Strait to highlight the right of free passage in international waters, the report said.

The Pentagon and the US Pacific Fleet have declined to comment on the plan, according to CNN. – With Pia Lee-Brago