President Duterte tackles South China Sea, security issues with Japanese PM Suga
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discussed the South China Sea and regional security issues during a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, MalacaΓ±ang said in a statement Wednesday.
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President Rodrigo
Roa Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga discuss matters during a
phone call at the MalacaΓ±ang Golf (Malago) Clubhouse in MalacaΓ±ang Park, Manila
on May 19, 2021. ROBINSON NIΓAL/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
During
the phone conversation, President Duterte emphasized the need for cooperation
on promoting domain awareness, maritime security and safety, freedom of
navigation and overflight and maritime connectivity and commerce.
At
the same time, the Filipino leader underscored the need to recognize and work
for the peaceful settlement of disputes, stating that the eruption of conflict
in the Asia-Pacific region would be harmful to regional interest.
Alliances
and partnerships, he said, must redound to greater stability in the South China
Sea and uphold the broader collective interest of the Asia-Pacific region.
The
President also expressed his gratitude to Japan for its generous assistance to
fight COVID-19, including the 20 billion yen initially approved out of the 50
billion yen Post-Disaster Standby Loan.
This
is on top of 1 billion yen provided by Japan for cold chain development in the
Philippines.
Prime
Minister Suga, for his part, recognized and expressed his support for the
Philippine government’s efforts to address the pandemic.
Both
leaders reaffirmed their commitments to further strengthen bilateral ties as
the Philippines and Japan celebrate this year 65 years of normalized relations
and 10 years of Strengthened Strategic Partnership.
Prime
Minister Suga was supposed to visit the Philippines but postponed his trip to
address Japan’s COVID-19 situation. President Duterte expressed the country’s
solidarity with the Japanese people in combating the pandemic. PND
