Philippines’ Aquino to visit Japan as China tensions mount over territorial disputes

Philippine President Benigno Aquino will visit Japan next week, with rows over China’s territorial ambitions likely on the agenda, his office said on Wednesday.

Aquino will meet Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during the one-day trip on June 24, in another move to deepen ties as the two nations have endured increasingly hostile disputes with China over rival maritime territorial claims.

The tensions will “likely” be a topic of discussion when the leaders meet, Aquino’s spokeswoman, Abigail Valte, said, although she did not want to give further details until an official agenda was determined.

In a statement announcing the trip on Tuesday evening, the Philippine foreign ministry also indicated the China tensions would be discussed, while referring to a “strategic partnership” between the two nations.

“The meeting is an opportunity for the two leaders to exchange views on recent regional developments and to discuss areas of cooperation to enhance the Philippines-Japan Strategic Partnership,” the statement said.

Aquino will also deliver a speech on the Philippine government’s efforts to end a decades-long Islamic insurgency in the south of the country, as it seeks to implement a peace pact with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front signed this year.