As Duterte embraces China, Japan’s Abe set to take off warm welcome

TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arranges private individual gatherings with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Tokyo one week from now, three sources said, looking to keep him onside with US-drove endeavors to contain Beijing’s South China Sea desire. 

With Duterte twisting up an excursion to China where he reported his “partition” from the United States, Abe faces a fragile undertaking to advance the firmly adjusted security objectives of Tokyo and Washington without pushing the Philippine pioneer further into Beijing’s grip.

“Japan wants to explain its regional stance, including its thinking regarding the South China Sea,” said one of the sources. “Abe wants to make a connection with Duterte,” he added, asking not to be identified because he is not authorized to talk to the media. [source]