Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday held video conferences with President Taneti Maamau of Kiribati, PM Rear Admiral (Retired) Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji, PM Kausea Natano of Tuvalu, PM Bob Loughman of Vanuatu, President Surangel S Whipps, Jr. of Palau, and PM James Marape of Papua New Guinea as part of the ongoing 9th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM9).
The meetings included four main agendas: a Free Indo-Pacific; the COVID-19 pandemic; the upcoming Tokyo Olympic Games; and addressing issues with North Korea.
During the meetings, Suga renewed Japan’s commitment to working towards a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP) with the Pacific nations. Japan has long been promoting the vision of FOIP with a focus on the three pillars of “promotion and consolidation of fundamental principles of the international community”, “pursuit of economic prosperity including through ensuring connectivity”, and a “commitment to peace and stability including maritime security.”
He also reassured the leaders that Tokyo would continue to provide medical assistance to the Pacific nations to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Japan’s Foreign Minister (FM), Toshimitsu Motegi, announced that the country would provide about 11 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific islands through COVAX, the UN-backed global vaccine sharing programme. In addition, Suga assured the leaders that Japan was “taking all possible infection control measures to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games safely and securely” and sought support from the Pacific nations in this regard.
Within Japan, Suga’s approval ratings have nosedived to their lowest point since he took office, as fresh lockdowns and a continued state of emergency in Tokyo and other Japanese prefectures have caused public frustration with the pandemic and the Suga administration. Internationally, countries remain concerned regarding the possible worsening of the pandemic within and outside of Japan due to the large crowd that the event, which commences on July 23, will attract.
Furthermore, Suga also discussed Tokyo’s security issues with Pyongyang, referring to the continued abduction of Japanese citizens over the past five decades, which Japan considers a “serious” violation of human rights and a challenge to “fundamental principles including democracy.” Tokyo has been campaigning for the release of 17 Japanese citizens who agents of the North Korean government abducted from 1977 to 1983. However, it is believed that the actual numbers are in hundreds.
In response, the Pacific leaders thanked Japan for its long-standing support and pledged to cooperate towards the ongoing PALM9. About 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)—including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Australia, and New Zealand—will participate in the meetings with Japan till July 2.
Japanese Diplomacy Round-Up: Pacific Islands
On Tuesday, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held videoconferences with officials from Kiribati, Fiji, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Palau, and Papua New Guinea.
June 30, 2021
SOURCE: NICOLAS DATICHE/GETTY