Duterte to respect Japan’s sea claim

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Despite his “pivot” to China, President Duterte respects the stand of Japan on its maritime disputes with the Chinese.

Duterte said Friday that maritime issues would be among the topics to be discussed with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when he visits Tokyo this week.

Duterte will embark on a working visit on Oct. 25 to 27, with a meeting with the Japanese prime minister and a state call on Emperor Akihito.

Japan has disputes with China over the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea. The Philippines, on the other hand, has been granted its claims by the UN-backed arbitral tribunal against China’s over the South China Sea.

“My talks with the Japanese government particularly the Premier (Prime Minister Abe) would really be solely on… most of it actually is economic operation and of course shared interest. Now the most important thing there is the shared interest… if I get what you’re driving at it’s about the South China Sea,” Duterte said during his arrival speech from a state visit to China at the Davao International Airport late Friday.

Japan has been pushing for a peaceful resolution of the disputes at the South China City.

Duterte stressed his visit to Japan was upon the invitation of the Japanese leader. He said he would also be talking with the rest of the leaders of the Japanese government, including possibly going to the Japanese Diet or parliament to talk with lawmakers.

Duterte said he cannot speak for Japan when it comes to disputes with China.

“You know I said, I cannot talk for your (Japan) country. I have to wait until I meet Minister Abe of what we would really be talking about. But the South China Sea has been the contention with several other countries vis-a-vis against China,” he told a Japanese journalist.