Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in Tokyo is paying a three-day visit to Japan. Speaking at the Philippines Economic Forum in Tokyo, Duterte said his visit to China last week was all about economic relations but again suggested that defense ties with Washington may be overhauled.
"I have declared that I will pursue an independent foreign policy. I want maybe in the next two years my country free of the presence of foreign military troops, I want them out, and if I have to revise or aggregate agreements, executive agreements, I will. This will be the last manoeuvre, war games between the United States and the Philippines military," said Duterte.
This is Duterte's first visit to Japan since he took office at the end of June. He is due to hold talks with Japan's Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe later today. During his visit to China last week, Duterte announced "separation" from the United States, before later assuring that ties were not being severed, and he was merely pursuing an independent foreign policy.