[ti:Philippines Tells US it Is Ending Military Agreement] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]The Philippines has informed the United States that it is ending a security agreement that permits American forces to train in the country. [00:13.80]A spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said U.S. officials were informed of the decision on Tuesday. [00:26.08]The ending of the agreement is set to become official in 180 days unless both sides agree to continue it. [00:38.00]The 1998 agreement sets rules for U.S. military forces operating in the Philippines. [00:48.00]The two nations hold many joint military exercises and training activities throughout the year. [00:57.60]Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told reporters the Philippines was withdrawing from the agreement [01:06.04]to permit more independent relations with other countries. [01:12.64]Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said on Twitter that President Duterte ordered the end of the agreement. [01:24.24]In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Manila called the move "a serious step with significant implications for the U.S.-Philippines alliance." [01:38.20]It said U.S. officials "will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance our shared interests." [01:49.24]The embassy statement added: "Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history. [01:59.00]We remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples." [02:05.52]Duterte has often criticized U.S. security policies while praising those of China and Russia, [02:14.48]even though the Philippine military enjoys close historic ties with American forces. [02:23.60]Duterte first warned of ending the deal in 2016 after a U.S. aid agency put a hold on money for anti-poverty projects in the Philippines. [02:38.24]He then repeated the threat in a speech last month. [02:43.68]The speech came after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, [02:51.40]said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why. [02:58.24]Philippine officials view the cancellation as a punishment for Dela Rosa's leadership of an anti-drug campaign Duterte launched in 2016. [03:11.88]The government campaign has killed thousands of mostly poor drug suspects. [03:18.84]It has drawn criticism from the United States, other Western nations and human rights groups. [03:27.68]Duterte decided to end the security agreement even after military generals and his defense and foreign ministers [03:37.52]defended it during a Senate hearing last week. [03:41.60]At the hearing, Locsin said the agreement clearly provided security economic benefits to both sides. [03:52.24]He proposed seeking changes to improve the agreement rather than ending it. [03:59.32]I'm Bryan Lynn. 更多听力请访问51VOA.COM