Japan wary of Philippine leader’s visit
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, center, arrived at Haneda international airport in Tokyo on Tuesday. Duterte is on a three-day official visit to Japan.
TOKYO » The outspoken Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte worries his Japanese hosts. Not just his policy toward the U.S. but also his informal style: Will he chew gum in front of the emperor?
Duterte arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday for a three-day visit, his first since becoming Philippine leader at the end of June.
For diplomats and political leaders, the main issue is his U.S. policy and how Japan can help mend those ties.
Tokyo is a major U.S. ally, and has watched with concern as Duterte criticized the U.S. and said he would scale back his country’s military engagement with America. He has also worried Japan and the United States by reaching out to China.
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters he planned to ask Duterte what his real intentions are when the two have dinner Tuesday. He said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will do the same on Wednesday.
“I think it would be important that we … directly hear opinions from President Duterte himself,” Kishida said.
The worries about Duterte were reinforced Tuesday when he lashed out again at the U.S. in a departure speech at the Manila airport.
He called Americans “foolish,” saying their land is stricken with “pure bigotry and discrimination,” a day after senior American diplomat Daniel Russel criticized Duterte’s controversial remarks and unclear intentions.
“These Americans are really foolish,” Duterte said, adding Americans travel to the Philippines “like somebody, without visas, these sillies.”
He also made a veiled threat to revoke a 2014 defense pact allowing large numbers of U.S. troops, warships and planes to enter the Philippines for combat drills.
Referring to the pact, Duterte said, “Forget it,” adding that in the future, “I do not want to see any military man of any other nation except the Philippine soldier.”
Duterte repeated similar comments during a packed reception at a Tokyo hotel, where he received an exuberant welcome by hundreds of Philippine residents in Japan shouting his name and holding up smartphones to photograph him. Duterte called the U.S. and the European Union “foolish,” according to Japan’s NHK public television.
In Japan, where formality and politeness are highly valued, some are worried about Duterte’s rough side, particularly when he meets Emperor Akihito on Friday.
Japanese TV shows have repeatedly shown Duterte apparently chewing gum at meetings and other public occasions.
In footage of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Duterte walked in with his hands in his pockets and chewed gum during the handshake and a signing ceremony.
“When he makes a courtesy visit to the emperor, his behavior could have a major impact,” senior lawmaker Itsunori Onodera said Sunday on Fuji TV. “I trust he understands the consequences and would not do such a thing (as chewing gum). I do hope the Philippine side will remind him of that particular point.”
Duterte often doesn’t button the top button of his shirt, wears jeans and has been seen without socks.
In Japan, where the emperor was considered a living god until the end of World War II, people are expected to be extra polite to him and his family.
“It’s unbelievable. I have never seen anything like that!” former diplomat Kunihiko Miyake said on Fuji TV. “How could he dare to behave in ways that could cause his host to lose face.”
During his visit, Japan is expected to offer Manila two large Coast Guard patrol boats — on top of an earlier pledge of 10 smaller ones — and TC-90 military training aircraft to help boost the Philippine’s maritime security in the South China Sea.
Associated Press writer Jim Gomez contributed to this report from Manila, Philippines.
21 responses to “Japan wary of Philippine leader’s visit”
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Duterte is just an unsophisticated hick from the country. He’s a Filipino Donald Trump who spews stupid vitriol that appeals to the down & out, unsuccessful, ignorant, and bigoted people. He has NO class or respect for the office of Presidency as evidenced by his casual dress and lack of decorum. Like Donald Trump, how the heck did the Philippines elect this bum ?? Chewing gum with his hands in his pockets when approaching the President of China, geez, what an example of how NOT to act !!!
Yes he may be a peasant. But you get a guy lie that on your side and he will break his back for you! (Drug boss on assessment of Tony Montoya, Scarface)
Now what kind of a tired salute is that?
Old World protocol be damned! Conventional methods are obsolete. If you are not civilized you negotiate the way you are familiar with! Roll-up your sleeves and get down to business. Born in gutter, wrestle in gutter, that’s his style. He wants respect his way!
Perceptive!
So, if someone walks into your home without removing his shoes, lights up a cigarette and trash talks your wife and kids, you’d chalk that up to an expectation of respect on his terms? That’s it? That’s mighty understanding of you but most people would call him a boor, kick him out and not have anything to do with him afterward.
I am worried also. Japan is such a genteel society where respect is ingrained in their psyche. This way of thinking has brought them to to the forefront of technology, innovation, quality and pop-culture. They possess so much respect for others that they think it is rude to correct others in their presence. To be visited by the gruff and unsophisticated leader of a country that is the opposite of Japan, and their “leader” holding such abrasive and troubling views, is unsavory at minimum, and insulting at most.
Bones, you do know that Nippon invaded the Philippines and made the women turn tricks as sex slaves for the entertainment of their military, don’t you?
Why ask him directly what his intentions are when we already know what they are. Cut him and his country loose. Are we really heading down the same path some of us are old enough to have visited decades ago? When countries hauled out nuclear weapons, and governments did their best to stop expansionist programs by their “enemies”? The economies of the present, the pampered elite of the present, enjoy a symbiotic global relationship. Does the US really need these outposts for our military? Most Americans are sick of our projection of power and involvement in countries where we are hated. That alone has made it possible for someone like Trump to even be considered a candidate for president.
Agree cut this thug from any kind of US aid, we don’t belong where we are not appreciated, let them be a ward of China or Russia. The USA should re-visit countries that get our $ aid and see if it benefits us. I don’t think we should be isolationists but our foreign policy should be re-examined in light of our current failures around the globe.
I think he’s working now for Russia and China and they spoke to him in trying to get high priority information from Japan which might be valuable to USSR and China; sort of an inside spy.
But I think Japan is aware of his being dangerous to reveal top secret information with him.
ISUUUUS!!!!! Dis won!!!! Ukinimam!!!
thats fricken hilarious!!!
Lol
They should host him in an official tea ceremony to teach him calmness, patience, appreciation of things that are around you, and harmony with the universe.
That’s way over his head….Pearls before swine…and apparently he is a pig….
He might remark that a Lipton tea bag is ever so much easier.
You mean to tell me I cannot wear rubber slippahs and speak pidgin in front of his majesty? They so high makamaka and yet they have been known to invade neighboring countries and turn your women into sex slaves. Wassup wit dat?
War is truly horrifying; such is how vicious men get no matter where and whose side you are on. Nobody is innocent of such barbarism.
As far as Duterte is concerned, I wouldn’t be surprised the next thing we see is the Red Star flying over buildings and uniforms, etc.
No woories brah, you would never be invited to see the Royal Family, ever.
“These Americans are really foolish,” Duterte said, adding Americans travel to the Philippines “like somebody, without visas, these sillies.” – Did this banana republic dictator really just clown the life blood of his country’s economy, US tourism and aid? Ungrateful SOB, if someone doesn’t stop him soon he has the potential to really hurt his own people. He keeps this up, his own military may overthrow him as they have done to other Philippines leaders in the past.