President Duterte will renew the Philippines’ pledge to uphold freedom of navigation and the exercise of self-restraint in the South China Sea when he meets with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo next week. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the President would be in the Japanese capital to participate in the 25th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia, where he would deliver a speech on Friday next week. This will be immediately followed by a meeting with Abe, where they are to discuss the two countries’ strategic partnership in several areas, and developments in the South China Sea maritime dispute and the Korean Peninsula.

Aurelio, J. M. (2019, May 25). Sea disputes high on agenda of Du30'S 7th meet with Abe. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.