PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday vowed to ensure maritime safety in the region, with Japan agreeing to help the Philippines acquire new vessels. Japan will provide official development assistance to allow the Philippines to acquire large-scale patrol vessels, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will transfer training aircraft TC-90s. Japan plans to provide high-speed boats and other equipment “to enhance the Philippines’ anti-terrorism capabilities,” the joint statement said. We did not talk about arms, we did not talk about stationing of troops … we avoided talking about alliances, military or otherwise,” Duterte told Japanese businessmen. Stronger economic tiesAt the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo, Duterte wooed Japanese investors as he vowed to strengthen economic ties between the Philippines and Japan.

Source: Manila Times October 26, 2016 18:22 UTC