MANILA - Filipino and US troops began training exercises this week, the Philippines military said on Wednesday, despite President Rodrigo Duterte's threats to end joint war games and kick American soldiers out of his country as he edges closer to Beijing. He also announced an end to joint war games after an amphibious exercise involving several hundred US and Filipino marines finished last month. Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, said in Washington that military cooperation between the US and the Philippines is unchanged for now. The Philippine military said it was awaiting guidelines from Duterte on whether the joint war games with its key defence ally would continue to be held next year. Duterte has insisted he is not doing anything illegal, but added he would be "happy to slaughter" three million drug users.

Source: Bangkok Post November 16, 2016 09:48 UTC