Philippines open to joint war drills with China: Duterte

MANILA, May 1 (Xinhua) -- Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday that he is open to the idea of conducting joint military exercises with China.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (R, front) receives a hat from Hu Jie (L, front), captain of China's missile destroyer Changchun, in Davao City, the Philippines, May 1, 2017. Duterte visit the Chinese warship docked in Davao City wharf on Monday. A Chinese naval fleet has begun a three-day friendly visit after arriving Sunday at Davao City in the southeastern region of The Philippines. (Xinhua/Yu Wei)

"I agree (to the idea). They can have joint exercise(s) here in Mindanao, maybe in the Sulu Sea," Duterte told reporters after visiting the Chinese warship docked in Davao City wharf.

Duterte said he was very impressed by the Chinese warship. "It's very impressive. It's all carpeted. It's so beautiful. Inside, it's like a luxury hotel," he told reporters, "It's clean!"

He said the visit to the warship is part of the confidence building and good will between Manila and Beijing.

A Chinese naval fleet has begun a three-day friendly visit after arriving Sunday at Davao City in the southeastern region of The Philippines.