Japan would like to hear from Duterte if there is foreign policy shift
Japan would like to hear from President Rodrigo Duterte if there is a shift on the Philippines’ foreign policy, an official from the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said on Friday.
Atsushi Ueno, minister and deputy chief of mission of the Japanese Embassy, said the issue might be part of the discussion between Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe when the Philippine president embarks on a four-day official visit to Japan on October 25 to 27 on the invitation of the premier.
"If it is actually happening, that maybe what the two leaders will discuss and we would like to listen to what President Duterte explains to our leaders about foreign policy of his administration," he said in a press briefing in Malacanang when asked if Duterte's establishing of close ties with China and distancing from the United States did not worry Japan.
Japan is a strong ally of the US.
Duterte, in an event in China, declared the Philippines’ "separation" from the US in terms of military and economic ties.
He has said the Philippines would rely more on China and is planning to go to Russia to seek for more cooperation.
Ueno said as far as the bilateral relations between the Philippines and Japan is concerned, despite a change of the presidency, "we can maintain very good relations and I’m sure that we can continue to maintain our good relations with President Duterte and his administration as well."
In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Duterte’s “separation” from the United States is “ not an intent to renege on our treaties and agreements with our established allies but an assertion that we are an independent and sovereign nation, now finding common ground with friendly neighbors with shared aspirations in the spirit of mutual respect, support and cooperation.”
Presidential Communications Office Assistant Secretary Ana Marie Banaag said Duterte's official visit will bolster strong strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan.
"A bold scope of bilateral discussions between the President and Japanese leaders will include security, economic and defense cooperation, infrastructure development and development projects in Mindanao, among others," she said in the same press briefing.
Ueno said they are not expecting any joint declaration between Duterte and Abe.
"But if the two leaders can agree on some items of cooperation, some signing ceremony are expected but as the details, we are still working on," he said.
During the bilateral meeting between Duterte and Abe, he said the two leaders could discuss the anti-drug campaign of the Philippine government.
The president is expected to visit the Japan Marine United Corporation in Yokohama City where the 10, 44-meter multi-role response vessels are being built.
One of the vessels, named BRP Tubbataha, was commissioned recently.
Ueno said Japan will deliver the remaining nine vessels until June next year.
The project is being implemented as an official development assistance (ODA) via a tied loan extended by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The loan facility covers P 7,373,700,000 out of the total project of P 8,807,700,000. The balance will be sourced from the Philippine counterpart of P 1,434,000,000.
Duterte will meet with Japan's top business leaders and the Filipino community. There are estimated 400,000 Filipinos in Japan.
Before returning to Manila on October 27, Duterte will call on with Emperor Akihito at the Imperial Palace.
Japan is the largest source of Philippine ODA. 2016 marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations of the two countries. Celerina Monte/DMS
