A dangerous double act

PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III made it crystal clear in Tokyo that he does not care whether Japan nullifies the pacifist nature of its current constitution, nor what that means for regional peace and stability, as long as his country can get Japanese money and military hardware.

Together with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Aquino highlighted the "challenge" of "safeguarding" the region's security and "advancing the rule of law". Which he portrayed as an "important area of engagement" between the Philippines and Japan, and "at the heart" of his visit to Japan.

Abe, on his part, availed himself of Aquino's flattery of a positive Japanese role to promote his "three principles of the rule of law", and "policy of proactive contribution to peace", a prescription he has been pedaling globally with China as the imaginary enemy.