PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte and Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga have agreed to work together to maintain security and stability in the disputed South China Sea under international law, Malacañang said.

Duterte had a 20-minute 'warm, engaging, and productive' telephone conversation with Suga on Wednesday, discussing issues such as the South China Sea, the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, sea piracy and terrorism, Malacañang said.