Japan faces delicate diplomatic balancing act as Duterte visits

Tokyo

FRESH from his official visit to China last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte will begin a three-day visit to Japan on Tuesday, amid intense speculation over what role Japan can play in easing strained relations between Manila and Washington and in counterbalancing China's growing influence in the South China Sea.

During his visit to Beijing where he held talks with China's President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders, the Philippine leader declared his country's "separation from the US" in "military and economic terms" - a statement which analysts said could have profound implications for US alliance partner Japan.