Duterte’s Bluster Not Affecting US-Philippine Military Ties - Admiral Harris

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's statements implying he would reduce the US military's presence in his island nation have been an empty rhetoric, US Pacific Command commander Admiral Harry Harris said in remarks at a conference in Washington, DC.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Duterte assumed the presidency on June 30 and immediately started calling publicly for the Philippines to distance itself from the United States and pivot to China.

"I have seen some statements that are concerning coming from the new president, but despite what he has said there has been no change in anything with the Philippines," Harris claimed. "We have not been asked to remove forces."

The Philippine president also signaled he might ask US military forces to leave the country.