President Rodrigo R. Duterte said his talks with Japanese leaders would solely be on economic cooperation and shared interests which would likely include the issue on the South China Sea. The president is scheduled to fly to Japan on October 25 upon the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and will return on October 27. Abe, on his congratulatory letter to Duterte after winning the election, extended an invitation to visit Japan, which the President graciously accepted when the two leaders met at the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos last September.

Aben, E. L. (2016, October 23). Duterte to discuss South China Sea issue with Abe in upcoming visit. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 6.