Japan yesterday welcomed Pacific island leaders for a three-day summit on issues ranging from rising sea levels to security as Western countries vie with China for influence in the region.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is also expected to seek to soothe concerns about the release of treated wastewater from Japan’s crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean.
A joint statement is due tomorrow from the summit, which brings together Japan and representatives from the 18 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members, including Australia and New Zealand.
Photo: Kyodo News via AP
With US support, Japan has strengthened defense cooperation in the hotly contested Pacific region, where China is also offering aid for infrastructure and security.
China notably signed a secretive security pact with the Solomon Islands in 2022, sparking fears it could one day use the nation to gain a strategic military toehold in the region, despite assurances from Beijing and Honiara.
In January, PIF member Nauru cut ties with Taiwan in favor of China — leaving only 12 UN member nations worldwide that recognize Taipei diplomatically, including Palau, another PIF member.
Palaun National Security Coordinator Jennifer Anson told Japanese broadcaster NHK that many in the group were averse to saying “anything bad about China,” because of their close ties.
She also expressed the hope that Japan would support maritime surveillance to track Chinese research vessels in Palau’s exclusive economic zone, NHK said.
Ships carrying vital energy imports to Japan pass through the waterways surrounding the PIF members, which are also important fishing zones for Japan.
Tokyo is expected to promise assistance to the islands in a range of fields from maritime security to healthcare, education and adapting to climate risks.
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