Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte left Japan today without meeting Emperor Akihito as their scheduled meeting had to be canceled because of the death of the emperor's uncle.
Before ending his three-day visit, Duterte proposed joint military exercises with Japan, while reiterating that he will not conduct them with Americans in his presidency.
Duterte made the proposal during his visit to a coast guard unit to observe an exercise from one of the patrol vessels Japan pledged to provide the Philippines to upgrade Manila's maritime security capabilities amid South China Sea disputes with Beijing.
The president told reporters in an unscheduled interview that he discussed a possibility of the joint exercise "in general terms" when he held talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe yesterday, according to a statement released by the Philippine presidential palace.
Duterte also reminded reporters that allowing American military to stay in his country would be "difficult" and that he planned to review the military cooperation agreement and ask them "one of these days" to leave the country.
He did not elaborate on his comment on joint exercises with Japan, which could have mixed implications because of Japan also has tensions with China over East China Sea islands, history and other issues.
Duterte has criticised Washington's foreign policy while reaching out to Beijing. His criticism to US and its military presence in the Philippines have raised concerns in Washington and Tokyo, a top American ally.
He said yesterday he wants foreign troops out of his country possibly within the next two years, referring to visiting US troops. The Philippines hosts US troops in five military camps under a security deal signed by Duterte's predecessor as a counter to China's growing military assertiveness in the region.
But in Manila, Philippine officials revealed today that despite Duterte's opposition to further exercises with the US, the two countries held navy exercise October 17-26 on mines and humanitarian underwater search missions.
Philippine navy Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, commander of the military's Western Command, said the maneuvers including emergency diving procedures and operating sonar equipment were held in the western Philippine province of Palawan facing the disputed South China Sea.
Duterte said Abe asked him to explain his US policy but did not offer to mediate the chilling relations between the US and the Philippines.
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