Thousands of American, Japanese, Australian and Filipino troops are scheduled to take part in joint military drills in the Philippines.

The Philippines hosts annual joint military drills code-named "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) with the US, but Japanese and Australian forces have joined them for the first time this year.

The drills were scheduled to start on May 7 in multiple locations across the island of Luzon and last a fortnight.

The participants will rehearse their responses to situations caused by natural disasters and extremist attacks. The rehearsals will include exercises in mutual defense, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

British forces have been invited to observe the drills.

Joint military exercises were scaled back last year in response to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte�s opposition to a military defense pact between Manila and the US.

Philippines to US: Forget military pact

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says the United States must “forget” a defense pact with his country.

Duterte has announced opposition to the presence of foreign troops, particularly Americans, in his country.

During a visit to China in October 2016, Duterte announced his country�s "separation from the US” in military and economic relations.

Instead, Duterte has been forging relations with Russia and China.