Duterte urged to avoid discussing S China Sea dispute on Japan visit

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should stick to economic and public security issues during his current visit to Japan, and avoid discussing sensitive topics since Japan is using the Philippines to interfere in the South China Sea dispute, experts said.

Duterte began his three-day visit to Japan on Tuesday following last week's visit to China, Japan's Kyodo News reported. It also quoted a senior Japanese diplomat as saying that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to stress the importance of US presence in the Asia-Pacific region "amid China's rising assertiveness in the South China Sea."

Abe will hold rare one-on-one talks with Duterte at his residence in Tokyo on Wednesday following a larger, more formal meeting with senior officials, according to a Reuters report on Sunday.

"Japan has high expectations for Duterte's visit. It would like to figure out recent remarks Duterte made as well as his behavior through such private and direct meetings," Li Kaisheng, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times Tuesday.

Japan still wants to use the Philippines to help it get involved in South China Sea issues despite recent pronouncements of a shift in the Philippines' foreign policy, Wang Xiaopeng, a maritime border expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

But Duterte's Japan trip would have little effect on the Philippines' policy on China since both China and the Philippines have made efforts to improve relations, Wang said.

"Duterte knows that his country's top priorities include livelihood, the economy and fighting illegal drugs, so he is more likely to seek economic cooperation with Japan and avoid sensitive issues like the South China Sea dispute," Wang noted.

"If Duterte had to choose between China and Japan, he would be more likely favor cooperation with China, which the Philippines needs more in terms of infrastructure development," Li said.

Li added that it is possible that Duterte may tone down his statements on the US since Japan, an important U.S. ally, may exert influence on him during the visit.

Duterte lashed out at the U.S. on Tuesday, saying he did not start a fight with the U.S., and that he could forget about a military agreement between both countries if he stays in power longer, Reuters reported on Tuesday.

The U.S., he said, should not treat the Philippines "like a dog on a leash," adding to confusion about the future ties of the longtime allies, according to Reuters.

"Duterte's remarks did not mean that the Philippines is adopting an extreme policy towards the U.S. Duterte is just adjusting the pro-U.S. policy of his predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, and is trying to adjust ties with the U.S. to give the Philippines a more active role," Wang said.

Li said adopting a balanced policy among the big countries benefits the Philippines, and setting aside the South China Sea dispute would also be good for the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.