Japan seeks to win back Duterte

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will begin his visit to Japan next week, and reports suggest Tokyo is not taking the meeting lightly after what happened in China.

President Duterte at a press conference in China on October 19 - Photo: Reuters

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has arranged secret meetings with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on the sidelines of his official visit to Tokyo next week to keep the rebellious leader in line with U.S.-led efforts to contain China's ambitions in the South China Sea, Reuters reported.

Mr. Abe's move is believed to be in response to Mr. Duterte's statement calling for "separation" from the country's long-time ally, the United States, during his visit to China on October 20.

Mr. Abe now suddenly has to shoulder an extremely "sensitive" responsibility, which is to both promote common security goals between the US and Japan and avoid making Mr. Duterte increasingly close to the Beijing government.

“Japan wants to explain its stance in the region, including its stance on the South China Sea issue,” an unnamed source told Reuters. “Abe wants to build a connection with Duterte.”

Mr Abe is expected to hold a private meeting with Mr Duterte at his residence in Tokyo on the evening of October 26, after the two sides attend an official meeting with senior officials from both countries, the source said.

According to another Reuters source, Mr. Abe rarely holds private meetings with heads of state after official meetings.

Mr. Duterte will also have dinner with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on the evening of October 25.

"It seems that Japan is now determined to develop a relationship with Mr. Duterte and will avoid sensitive topics so as not to be abandoned by him (like it abandoned the United States)," a Reuters source commented.

A Tokyo government official said the country wanted to reaffirm with Duterte the importance of the rule of law and freedom of navigation at sea, although Abe was unlikely to touch on the Philippine president’s comments about the White House or the international arbitration ruling during their meeting.

A Philippine government spokesman affirmed ahead of President Duterte's visit to Japan that he "highly values ​​the dynamic and energetic relationship" between the Philippines and Japan.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga meanwhile said Tokyo was examining the impact on Japan that developments between China, the Philippines and the United States could have, but he declined to comment further.

"Regarding the issue in the East Sea, we are working to achieve a diplomatic solution through cooperation between relevant parties," Mr. Suga announced at a regular press conference today, October 21.

In June, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani pledged to strengthen his country’s security role in Southeast Asia by helping countries in the region, including the Philippines and Vietnam, build their defense capabilities to counter “unilateral, dangerous and coercive actions” in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Abe's meeting with Mr. Duterte on October 26 will also include signing an agreement to provide two more patrol ships to the Philippines to increase Japan's eyes and ears in the East Sea, Reuters sources said.

President Duterte and his delegation are expected to meet with leaders of major Japanese companies and corporations such as Toyota and Mitsubishi to seek investment for the Philippines.

Mr. Duterte will conclude his visit to Japan on October 27 with a phone call with Emperor Akihito.

According to Tuoi Tre