AURORA PROVINCE, PHILIPPINES - MAY 15: Philippine marines look on as the Philippine navy ship BRP Tarlac dock in the foreground on May 15, 2017 in Casiguran Province, Philippines. Philippines and U.S. troops held the annual 'Balikatan' (shoulder-to-shoulder) joint military exercises with an approximately 6,000 participating troops, consisting of some 2,800 Philippine troops and 2,600 U.S. troops. The annual joint exercises are reportedly smaller in scale compared to previous years as directed by President Rodrigo Duterte, who has taken a softer stance than his predecessor toward territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea while expanding security ties with China and Russia. (Photo by Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images) Photographer: Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images AsiaPac , Photographer: Dondi Tawatao/Getty Images AsiaPac