Philippine leader's meeting with Japan emperor canceled

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, accompanied by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, right, and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, left, clap their hands at the end of Japan's coast guard drills in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Japan Coast Guard security team display tracking and capture drills by rigid-hulled inflatable boats against an unidentified ship at sea in Yokohama Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 while Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte inspect. (Kazuhiro Nogi/Pool Photo via AP) (The Associated Press)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, second left in white outfit, and Satoshi Nakajima, front right, commander of Japanese coast guard, shake hands at a Japan Coast Guard base in Yokohama, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan, his first as Philippine leader. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko) (The Associated Press)

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is leaving Japan without meeting Emperor Akihito as the scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle.

Duterte earlier Thursday proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency.

Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing.

Duterte has criticized U.S. foreign policy while cozying up to Beijing to calm the dispute.

He said Wednesday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting U.S. troops.