Philippines, US begin smaller-scale joint military exercises

Lt. Gen. Oscar Lactao, left, and Lt.Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, center, co-directors for this year's joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise dubbed "Balikatan 2017", unfurl the joint military exercise flag at the opening ceremony Monday, May 8, 2017 at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. This year's military drill has been scaled down to humanitarian assistance and disaster response and anti-terrorism.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

From left to right, Lt. Gen. Oscar Lactao, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Philippines Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ariel Abadilla, Philippine Armed Forces Chief Gen. Eduardo Ano and Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson link arms at the opening ceremony for this year's joint Philippines-U.S. military exercise dubbed "Balikatan 2017" Monday, May 8, 2017 at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city northeast of Manila, Philippines. This year's military drill has been scaled down to humanitarian assistance and disaster response and anti-terrorism.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

From left to right, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim, Philippines Defense Chief Delfin Lorenzana, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Ariel Abadilla, stand at attention during the entry of colors at the opening ceremony for this year's joint Philippines-U.S. military exercise dubbed "Balikatan 2017" Monday, May 8, 2017 at Camp Aguinaldo in suburban Quezon city, northeast of Manila, Philippines. Philippine and U.S. troops kicked off Monday their annual joint exercises that are smaller in scale than in years past, focusing on disaster response and counterterrorism while excluding territorial defense operations and maritime security.(AP Photo/Bullit Marquez) (The Associated Press)

Philippine and U.S. troops have begun annual joint exercises that are smaller in scale than in years past, focusing on disaster response and counterterrorism while excluding territorial defense operations.

The changes were instructed by President Rodrigo Duterte who has said he wants to chart a foreign policy less oriented toward Washington while expanding security ties with China and Russia. He has taken a softer stance than his predecessor on the territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea.

Opening rites for the "Balikatan" or "Shoulder-to-Shoulder" exercises were led Monday by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim at the Philippine military's headquarters in metropolitan Manila.

Officials say 5,400 personnel will be involved in the drills, or about half of 11,000 troops who took part last year.