Gov’t eyes Rody China visit by mid-October

President Duterte may visit China by mid- October and Japan at the end of that month, Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said.

Officials, however, stressed the dates for the proposed trips are still being worked out.

A Japanese foreign ministry official confirmed plans were being made. China’s Foreign Ministry did not confirm the trip, but reiterated its invitation for Duterte to visit “at an early date.”

A few days after the China trip, Duterte will also embark on a planned “working visit” to Japan, where Tokyo is expected to commit to helping Manila further boost its maritime security capabilities, diplomatic sources said.

According to a number of officials contacted by Kyodo

News, the planned trip to Japan is scheduled for Oct. 25- 27, and may include a courtesy call on Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

A Philippine government source said the trip’s purpose is for Duterte’s “introductory meeting with the Japanese,” but sources from Tokyo disclosed the main objective, as far as Japan is concerned, is to commit to providing further maritime security assistance to Manila.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez told reporters in a briefing on Thursday that a group of businessmen may be brought along to Japan for Duterte’s working visit “to push for greater trade activities” between the two countries. Manila and Tokyo have a standing economic partnership agreement.

The Philippines’ relations with Japan are warm but those with China have long been frosty over territorial wrangles in the South China Sea.

Duterte has repeatedly said conflict was pointless and he wants to get along and do business with Beijing.

Some analysts believe Duterte’s uncharacteristic verbal restraint towards China, in contrast to his stinging rebukes of the United States, United Nations and European Union, showed he is hedging in pursuit of his goal of an independent foreign policy and reducing reliance on former colonial ruler Washington.

Duterte has lashed out against Washington, the EU and the United Nations for criticizing his deadly antidrugs campaign, in which over 3,000 people have been killed.

China and the Philippines are trying to find a way to break the ice after a verdict by an arbitral court in The Hague in July invalidated Beijing’s claims to most of the South China Sea and gave Manila the legal high ground in the dispute. –