Duterte observed coast guard drills on the final day of a visit to Japan during which tensions in the South China Sea have been a key topic. / AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO AND POOL / Kazuhiro NOGI
PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday (October 27) his country could join naval exercises with Japan, but repeated there would be no more war games with long-time ally the United States and again gave vent to his anger against Washington.
“Yes, within our territorial waters, not the sea itself, we won’t have any problems. I do not think that they will stop us, I mean China will stop us, going there and making a cruise. As a matter of fact, I also told them they could go near our territorial waters and park there if they want,” Duterte said, while inspecting a base of the Japan coast guard on the final day of a three-day visit to Japan in Yokohama, near Tokyo.
The President also said the patrol vessels given by Japan would be used within the waters of the country, including West Philippine Sea.
However, Duterte said there was no mention of visiting forces agreement during his meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The Philippine leader’s visit to Japan coincides with jitters about his foreign policy after weeks of verbal attacks on the United States, including threats to end military agreements, and overtures towards China.
Duterte last week announced in China his “separation” from the United States, but then insisted ties were not being severed and that he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy.
“I do not want to embarrass my defense secretary but the exercises with the Americans will be the last,” Duterte reiterated on Thursday, a day after saying he also said he wanted foreign troops out of his country “maybe in the next two years.”
In their Wednesday (October 26) talks, Duterte and Abe agreed on the importance of settling maritime disputes peacefully.
Duterte said he had explained to Abe why he was angry with the United States, reiterating that Washington treated the Philippines like a “dog on a leash” and lectured them about human rights in relations to his domestic campaign against drugs.
A scheduled call by Duterte on Japanese Emperor Akihito, 82, was canceled following the death on Thursday of Akihito’s 100-year-old uncle, Prince Mikasa.
In July, the Coast Guards of both countries conducted their sixth Joint Maritime Law Enforcement (MARLEN) Exercise.
During his visit in Japan, Duterte was quick to explain that there was no military alliance brought up during his visit to China.
Ties between China and Japan have been strained due to their territorial dispute over Senkaku islands.
In September, Duterte announced that he would end joint military exercises with the United States. (with reports from Reuters and Agence France Presse)
