PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Wednesday (October 26) his high-profile visit to China last week was about economics, not security, and vowed to work closely with Japan on issues of common concern in the region, including the South China Sea.
“The Philippines will continue to work closely with Japan on issues of common concern in the region and uphold the shared values of democracy, adherence to the rule of law, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, including the South China Sea,” Duterte told a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
In the same news conference, Japanese Prime Minister Abe said, “In that regard, Japan welcomes the efforts of President (Rodrigo) Duterte visiting China and endeavouring to improve and further advance the bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China.”
Duterte and Abe later stressed their countries’ common values as democracies that respect the rule of law.
Japan announced loans totalling 21.3 billion yen ($204 million) to help improve the Philippines’ maritime safety as well promote peace and agriculture on Mindanao.
Although his Japanese hosts depend on the US for security, Tokyo has so far not responded to Duterte’s diatribes.
In an earlier event, Duterte, in his speech at the economic forum, attempted to calm worries in Japan over his trip to China, assuring his audience that he was not seeking military ties with Beijing, just a closer economic relationship.
“We did not talk about arms, we did not talk about stationing of troops,” he said. “We avoided talking about alliances, military or otherwise.”
Abe had worked to improve bilateral relations with Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, providing patrol boats to support Manila in its territorial row with Beijing over rival claims to the South China Sea.
The Philippines took Beijing to an international tribunal over its extensive claims in the region and won a resounding victory in July.
But Duterte has not pressed the issue with Beijing, instead working to improve ties and attract billions of dollars in Chinese loans and investments.
The volatile Philippine leader’s visit to Japan comes amid jitters about his foreign policy goals after weeks of verbal attacks on ally the United States and overtures towards China.
Duterte last week announced in China his “separation” from the United States, but then insisted ties were not being severed and that he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy. He said he would want US troops out of the country within his presidency. (with reports from Reuters, Agence France Presse)