Philippines' Duterte tells Japan his
China visit was just economics, blasts U.S
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[October 26, 2016]
By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Linda Sieg
TOKYO (Reuters) - Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte sought to assure Japan on Wednesday that his
high-profile visit to China last week was about economics, not security,
and vowed to stand on Tokyo's side over the disputed South China Sea
when the time came.
Earlier in the day, Duterte reiterated his harsh words for long-time
ally Washington, saying he might end defense treaties.
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 toward 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.
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.
"You know I went to China for a visit. And I would like to assure you
that all there was, was economics. We did not talk about arms. We
avoided talking about alliances," he told an audience of Japanese
businessmen.
Duterte, speaking through a Japanese interpreter at the start of his
talks with Abe, later said he would stand on Japan's side in the
contentious matter of the South China Sea.
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Describing Japan as a "special friend who is closer than a brother",
Duterte said after the meeting that Manila would work closely with Japan
on regional issues of common concern and uphold the values of democracy,
the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes including the South
China Sea.
Reading from a statement, he added: "Today we have taken steps to ensure
that our ties remain vibrant and will gain greater strength in the years
to come."
INDEPENDENT FOREIGN POLICY
Both Tokyo and Washington have grown worried that the commitment under
Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino, to stand up to China in the South
China Sea is under threat, although Japan has no direct territorial row
with Beijing there.
Japan has a separate dispute with China over tiny, uninhabited isles in
the East China Sea, and has been keen to stress the importance of the
rule of law.
Abe, for his part, said he welcomed Duterte's efforts to improve
Manila's ties with Beijing and - noting the South China Sea issue was
one of international interest - said the two leaders had agreed on the
importance of settling maritime disputes peacefully.
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![](../images/102616pics/news_m17.jpg)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (L) and Japan's Prime Minister
Shinzo Abe attend a joint press conference at the prime minister's
office in Tokyo, Japan October 26, 2016. REUTERS/Eugene Hoshiko/Pool
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Aquino angered China by lodging a case with an arbitration court in
the Hague challenging the legitimacy of Beijing's maritime claims in
the resource-rich sea. The court's ruling in July emphatically
favored Manila but was rejected by China, which has warned
Washington and Tokyo to stay out of the feud.
Duterte earlier told an audience of Japanese business executives he
did not pick quarrels with his neighbors, but had tough words for
Washington.
"I have declared that I will pursue an independent foreign policy. I
want, maybe in the next two years, my country free of the presence
of foreign military troops. I want them out," he said.
"And if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, executive
agreements, this shall be the last maneuver, war games between the
United States and the Philippines military."
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about
$5 trillion worth of trade passes every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the sea,
believed to have rich oil and gas deposits.
Duterte has threatened to abrogate defense agreements with the
United States several times but has yet to take any concrete action
beyond cancelling some minor navy patrol exercises.
In a pattern already becoming familiar, Duterte's foreign minister,
Perfecto Yasay, tried to soothe concerns raised by the president's
remarks. He told a news conference that Manila would respect treaty
obligations as long as mutual interests converged.
Japan and the Philippines also signed notes on two yen loan projects
worth up to 21.4 billion yen ($205 million), including one to build
two patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard to boost its
capacity for search and rescue and law enforcement.
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(Additional reporting by Enrico Dela Cruz and Manolo Serapio Jr in
MANILA and Elaine Lies and Minami Funakoshi in Tokyo; Writing by
Martin Petty and Linda Sieg; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick
Macfie)
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