President Duterte's visit to Japan

[Cossack25A1]

Duterte on Japan: 'Closer than brother'
By CNN Philippines Staff

Updated 23:54 PM PHT Wed
October 26, 2016

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A "special friend who's closer than a brother."

President Rodrigo Duterte had nothing but kind words for Japan as he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a joint statement on Wednesday.

"Japan's official development assistance for the Philippines is second to none," Duterte said on his second day in Tokyo.

Describing his visit as a "defining moment in solid, strategic partnership between the two countries," Duterte mentioned various aspects of cooperation that were agreed upon — including respect for the rule of law, respect for basic human rights, and a free and open economy.

The two leaders also discussed continuous cooperation to maintain regional peace, stability and prosperity in the region — and the importance of a rules-based approach to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes.

Related: Japan to join U.S. in South China Sea patrols

Duterte also thanked Japan for its intention to provide high-speed boats and other equipment to enhance the Philippines' anti-terrorism capabilities and the transfer of a TC-90s training aircraft.

Meanwhile, Abe accepted "with pleasure" an offer from Duterte to visit the Philippines at a convenient time, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.


Foreign troops out by 2018

Earlier, Duterte spoke at an economic forum, where he again said all foreign military forces should out of the Philippines.

And gave a time frame: in two years.

"I want them out, and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements, I will," the President said.

Apart from the U.S., Australia also deploys troops to the country as part of another visiting forces deal.

Duterte then continued to explain his anger with the United States — saying that instead of helping in the campaign against drugs, the country's supposed friend chose to "make it hard" for him.

"We will survive without the assistance of America. Maybe, a lesser quality of life, but we will survive," Duterte said. "If there is one thing I would like to prove to America and everybody is that there is such a thing as the dignity of the Filipino people."

The President had also said that his visit to China last week was solely about business, and nothing about military deals.

CNN Philippines' Ina Andolong contributed to this report.

-----
Link -> http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2016/10/26/Duterte-Abe-joint-statement.html
-----



========================================================================================
========================================================================================



Joint statement of PHL, Japan during Duterte’s official visit
Published October 27, 2016 10:41am

Below is the full text of the joint statement of the Philippines and Japan during the three-day state visit of President Rodrigo Duterte.

On the invitation of the government of Japan, His Excellency Rodrigo Roa Duterte, President of the Republic of the Philippines, undertook an official visit to Japan from 25 to 27 October 2016.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and His Excellency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a productive Summit Meeting in a friendly, forward-looking and constructive atmosphere. With a view to further promoting the "Strategic Partnership” of the Philippines and Japan as two maritime countries bound by shared basic values, the two leaders state the following:

1. The two leaders recognized the visit of President Duterte as a significant visit, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between the two countries. The visit is an important milestone in the bilateral relationship which highlights the depth of bilateral relations and further enhances exchanges and cooperation.
2. With the aim of sustaining a peaceful and active relationship between the East Asian and Southeast Asian regions, the two leaders reaffirmed that the two countries fully commit to further strengthening the Strategic Partnership based on such common values as freedom, democracy, the rule of law, respect for basic human rights, and a free and open economy. They also discussed continuous cooperation of the two countries to strengthen the bilateral relationship and to maintain regional peace and stability.
3. The two leaders shared the recognition that the security environment in the region is faced with many challenges, and decided to further collaborate to maintain peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.
4. The two leaders affirmed that the two countries share common interests in maintaining and promoting peace, stability and prosperity regionally and globally as maritime nations in Asia.
   
5. The two leaders emphasized the need to ensure maritime safety and security which are vital elements for the peace, stability and continued prosperity of both countries and of the region.
   
6. The two leaders affirmed Japan’s significant contributions over the years to the efforts of the Philippines to strengthen its maritime capabilities through human resource development, capacity-building assistance and provision of patrol vessels and other equipment for the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), taking into account the long history of cooperation between the Japan Coast Guard and the PCG. On that basis, they shared the intention to further cooperate in various areas of common interest for maritime security and safety.
   
7. The two leaders welcomed the signing of the Exchange of Notes on Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan for the two large-scale patrol vessels to the Philippines as well as the steady progress in the provision of ten patrol vessels, which Japan had already decided to provide. President Duterte expressed his appreciation for Japan’s continuous support in this field.
   
8. The two leaders also welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Implementation and Letter of Arrangement for the transfer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF)'s training aircraft TC-90s. Prime Minister Abe expressed his intention to continue enhancing security and defense cooperation, including training the Philippine Navy pilots and enhancing the capacity of its infrastructure.
   
9. President Duterte expressed his appreciation for Japan’s intention to provide high-speed boats and other equipment to enhance the Philippines’ anti-terrorism capabilities.
   
10. The two leaders shared the view that they would further enhance bilateral dialogues and policy consultations at all levels.
    
11. Maintaining open and stable seas is essential in the region. The two leaders shared the view that the South China Sea holds sea lanes vital for global economic activity and viability. In this regard, the two leaders stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as anti-piracy efforts and cooperation.
    
12. With regard to the South China Sea Arbitral Award, the two leaders acknowledged the importance of a rules-based approach to the peaceful settlement of maritime disputes without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UN Charter and other relevant international conventions. The two leaders emphasized the importance of self-restraint and non-militarization. In this regard, they also acknowledged the importance of the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), the Joint Communiqué of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of 24 July 2016, the Chairman’s Statement of the 19th ASEAN-Japan Summit of 7 September 2016 and the Chairman’s Statement of the 11th East Asia Summit of 8 September 2016.
    
13. The two leaders look to their network of friendships and alliances, in particular the ever stronger ties between the Philippines and Japan, to help promote the peace, stability and maritime security of the region.
    
14. Prime Minister Abe reaffirmed Japan’s support for ASEAN centrality and the latter’s vision of ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together. Looking forward to the Philippine Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017, Prime Minister Abe extended assurances of Japan’s continued support for a rules-based, people-oriented and people-centered regional community driving ASEAN connectivity and inclusive growth. President Duterte acknowledged Japan’s contributions to ASEAN community building through the ASEAN-Japan Strategic Partnership for Prospering Together and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, among other arrangements.
    
15. President Duterte extended an invitation for Prime Minister Abe to visit the Philippines at a convenient time. Prime Minister Abe accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Issued in Tokyo, 26 October 2016

-----
Link -> http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/stor...-of-phl-japan-during-duterte-s-official-visit
-----

 

[Shotgunner51]

Good news. Reinforcing bilateral relationship in constructive manner between PH and JP is not just good for both countries but also beneficial to the region.

 

[TaiShang]

Duterte's remarks in Japan accord with his words in Beijing: FM

Xinhua, October 27, 2016

China said on Thursday that Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's recent remarks during his visit to Japan accord with the consensus he reached with Chinese leaders during his China visit last week.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to a question regarding Japanese media reports saying Japan and the Philippines reached agreement during Duterte's visit on respecting an international arbitration tribunal ruling over the South China Sea.

Lu said China and the Philippines reached consensus during Duterte's state visit to China, and both agreed to focus on cooperation, put aside their differences and bring the South China Sea issue back to the correct track of bilateral negotiation and consultation.

"The consensus has been made clear in the statements of the meetings of the two countries' leaders, their talks as well as in the China-Philippines joint statement," Lu said at a routine press briefing.

The consensus meets the common interests of the two countries and peoples and helps regional peace and stability, he added.

Currently, the situation in the South China Sea is moving in a positive direction, with joint efforts from concerned parties, including China and the Philippines, Lu said, citing their efforts to properly settle the issue through dialogue.

"If some countries still have unrealistic illusions, it's better to give up (the illusions) as early as possible," Lu said.