President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe affirmed to pursue a peaceful resolution over the longstanding maritime dispute over the South China Sea.
“The issue of the South China Sea is linked directly to regional peace and stability and is of concern to the entire international community,” Abe said during his joint statement with Duterte in Malacañang on Wednesday.
Abe lauded Duterte’s efforts to improve the Philippines’ strained relations with China due to our maritime dispute.
“I welcome the fact that President Duterte is making efforts to improve China-Philippine relations in light of the arbitral award,” he said.
In July 2016, the Philippines won a historic decision by the international arbitral tribunal on the maritime dispute case against China.
Duterte has said he would set aside for now the ruling and would talk to China for a peaceful resolution of the dispute.
Abe said mentioned the significance of the rule of law but also cited peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“The significance of the rule of law, peaceful resolution of disputes and non-militarization has been confirmed at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-related meeting last year. Keeping in mind this year’s Asean affiliated meetings, we affirmed the importance of these,” he said.
The Prime Minister vowed that Japan would support the Philippines in its maritime capability.
“Both countries being maritime nations, Japan will enhance support for capacity building in the field of maritime security,” he said.
“We also had a frank exchange of views on the regional landscape and agreed to elevate cooperative relations to a higher level to adress not only bilateral issues but also to work for the resolution of regional challenges,” he added.
Abe arrived in the Philippines on Thursday noon for a two-day official visit. He thanked Duterte for the “heartwarming invitation” to the country. RAM

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MANILA — The first visit of a head of state during his term was a “welcome and much awaited reunion,” President Duterte said as he feted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Malacañang, barely three months after his own state visit to Tokyo.
At the state banquet for the Prime Minister on Thursday (Jan. 12), Mr. Duterte underscored the close relations between the Philippines and Japan, and said his discussions with Abe moved their countries closer to their common goals of ensuring a stable and more secure environment for their nations and their people to grow.
“Prime Minister Abe’s presence in Manila today is proof positive that Japan and the Philippines are fully committed to bring this long standing friendship and tried and tested partnership to even greater heights,” Mr. Duterte said.
They resolved to strengthen maritime and security cooperation, advance the cause of peace and development in Mindanao, intensify economic and trade cooperation, and address the illegal drugs scourge in a comprehensive manner, he noted.
The Philippines and Japan are friends that treat each other with mutual respect and trust, and share a common resolve to uphold democracy, adhere to the rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes, he said.
Mr. Duterte’s partner Honeylet Avancena joined the state banquet, along with Abe’s wife Akie.
Several prominent businessmen were also spotted at the affair, including Manny Pangilinan, Manny Villar, Ramon Ang, and Jaime Zobel de Ayala. SFM
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DAVAO CITY – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived here Thursday  night for a visit.
Abe and his party arrived on board the Japanese Air force One at the Davao City International Airport around 9:45 p.m.. They were welcomed by local officials.
From the airport, Abe and his party, which included his wife, Akie, proceeded to the Marco Polo Hotel where they would spend the night.
On Friday morning, Abe would meet with President Rodrigo Duterte at the latter’s house in Doña Luisa Subdivision where they would also have breakfast, sources said.
The Japanese prime minister was expected to later meet businessmen here, visit a Japanese-language college and participate in a few more activities before flying out on Friday noon. SFM

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McDonald’s Corp. is inviting bids for a significant stake in its Japan unit, according to people familiar with the situation, days after it reached a deal to sell its China and Hong Kong franchises.
The Oak Brook, Ill.-based fast-food giant owns through subsidiaries just under 50% of the unit, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has a market capitalization of around $3.5 billion. McDonald’s is looking to sell up to 33% of the unit, with bids due next week, the people said. A number of private-equity firms are…

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TOKYO: A North Korean cargo vessel carrying rice sank off the west coast of Japan’s westernmost major island of Kyushu on Thursday after springing a leak, but all 26 crew members were rescued without sustaining injuries, Japan’s coastguard said.
It has not been decided how to send the crew, all of them North Koreans, to their home country, a coastguard official said, adding that they were in good condition.
Japan’s ties with North Korea have long been strained due to the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents decades ago and Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programmes.
The Japanese coastguard is treating the incident as a straightforward shipwreck case and there were no signs of abnormalities, the official said.
The cargo ship was carrying 5,720 tonnes of rice from North Korea’s west coast city of Nampo to Wonsan on the east coast, the Japanese coastguard said.

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