Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is planning to visit Japan in late October to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Philippine government sources say arrangements are underway for Duterte to make his first visit to Japan since assuming office in June.
Duterte and Abe held talks on the sidelines of a series of ASEAN summit meetings earlier this month. Abe notified Duterte of Japan’s decision to provide patrol ships and other assistance to the Philippine Coast Guard to help boost its surveillance capability.
If the Tokyo meeting takes place, the leaders are expected to confirm their commitment to forge closer ties in the field of national security as China’s maritime activities increase in the South China Sea.
Duterte will also likely urge Japan to increase investment in his country’s manufacturing sector as part of Manila’s drive to invite foreign investment.
The President is also considering a trip to China before visiting Japan in a bid to open bilateral negotiations on a territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
An international arbitration tribunal ruled in July in favor of the Philippines and rejected China’s claims in the disputed waters.
The Philippines says China should act in accordance with the ruling. But Beijing says it has no intention to hold bilateral talks on the issue as long as Manila sticks to that stance.
Source and image: NHK
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