RP rejects US bid for military maneuvers

RP rejects US bid for military maneuvers

MANILA (AFP): The Philippine government has rejected a United States proposal to hold multilateral military exercises involving four other countries next year, a senior defense official said Sunday.

In its proposal, the U.S. government wants Thailand, Singapore, Australia and Canada to join the training exercises on a date which is yet to be decided.

The planned maneuvers would be the second large-scale exercises by Filipino and American troops since the Philippine Senate ratified a visiting forces agreement last year.

The official said holding the six-nation exercise could offend other Asian neighbors who do not enjoy close defense ties with the US, such as Vietnam, Malaysia and China.