TOKYO, Japan (Reuters) — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte sought to reassure Japan on Wednesday (October 26) in order to strengthen its strategic partnership in economy and maritime security.
“The Philippine – Japan strategic partnership has worked very well because both countries have gained much and will continue to benefit from it,” he told Japanese trade and business leaders.
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.
“But I give you my word today that we will not abandon Japan in our partnership and security matters, given the very common belief that our conflicts and problems with other nations must be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and own laws and everything,” he said.
His perplexing comments pose a headache for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has tightened ties with Washington while building closer security relations with Manila and other Southeast Asian countries as a counter-weight to a rising China.
“We will also be a partner and player of maritime safety, maritime security in the China Sea. And that we would like to avoid at all cost, violence because the law says that we have to resolve it peacefully,” he added.
Duterte has threatened to abrogate defense agreements with the United States several times over the past two months, but has yet to take any concrete action beyond cancelling some minor navy patrol exercises.
Duterte is set to meet Abe for bilateral talks later on Wednesday.