US Marines Brig. Gen. John Jansen, third from left front row, of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Maj. Gen. Andre Costales, third from right front row, Commandant of the Philippine Marines Corps, pose with other military officers following the opening ceremony for the 33rd joint US-Philippines amphibious landing exercises dubbed PHIBLEX at the marines corps in suburban Taguig city, east of Manila, Philippines Tuesday Oct. 4, 2016. President Rodrigo Duterte said he was giving notice to the United States, his country's long-standing ally, that joint exercises between Filipino and American troops this week will be the last such drills. He told the Filipino community in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, last week that he will maintain the military alliance with the US because of the countries' 1951 defense treaty. But he said this week's exercises will proceed only because he did not want to embarrass his defense secretary. AP Photo/Bullit Marquez
The top US diplomat for East Asia says the US will honor its commitments to the Philippines and it expects its Southeast Asian ally to the do the same.
Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel said the US values the relationship and wants to keep it on an "even keel."
President Rodrigo Duterte has announced steps to scale back military cooperation with the US as he looks to improve relations with China. Duterte said Tuesday he will not abrogate a defense treaty with the US but questioned its importance.
Russel said the US has no problem with the Philippines discussing its territorial and maritime disputes with China if it is done on terms acceptable to the Philippines and consistent with international law.
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