Japan Brief/FPCJ, No. 0929
May 27, 2009


Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting Held

The Fifth Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, officially called PALM5, was held in Tomamu, Shimukappu, in Hokkaido on May 22 and 23. Japan has hosted this summit once every three years since 1997 with the aim of strengthening relations with the Pacific island countries and jointly tackling the development of the region. The leaders of Japan and the 14 countries and 2 regions belonging to the PIF attend the summit, which provides an opportunity to discuss the situation in the Pacific region, Japan-PIF relations, and other issues.

As “the only summit led by Japan” (Sankei Shimbun editorial, May 23), the PALM gatherings have great significance in terms of Japan’s diplomacy. As Japan’s main newspapers pointed out, the countries and regions participating in the summit historically have close ties with Japan, but in recent years Taiwan and China have been increasing their presence in the Pacific region. In this situation, the PALM summits are an important diplomatic asset through which Japan can maintain and strengthen relations with the participating states.

Main Issues and Outcomes at PALM5

At PALM5, which was co-chaired by the leaders of Japan and Niue, under the slogan “We are islanders---Towards an eco-friendly and rich Pacific,” the participants held discussions on environmental and climate change problems, overcoming vulnerabilities bearing in mind the perspective of human security, and the strengthening of people-to-people exchange. Prime Minister Taro Aso announced that Japan would provide assistance to the Pacific island countries on a scale of 50 billion yen over the next three years, and the summit participants adopted the PALM5 Islanders’ Hokkaido Declaration.

According to newspaper reports, with regard to environmental and climate change problems, Prime Minister Aso proposed the “Pacific Environment Community” concept, with assistance on a scale of 6.8 billion yen and support for the training of 1,500 personnel in this field over the next three years. Furthermore, in addition to support for the training of 2,000 personnel over the next three years in human-security fields, such as public health, water supply, and education, Prime Minister Aso also announced the Kizuna Plan to promote people-to-people exchange between Japan and the Pacific region.

Main Newspaper Editorials

From May 23 to 26 four of Japan’s five main newspapers took up the PALM 5 summit in their editorials.

Under the headline “Japan should cement ties with Pacific isles at forum,” the Yomiuri Shimbun editorial (May 23) stated, “Common ground can be seen in Japan and the small Pacific nations in that both have a large number of islands in their waters and vast exclusive economic zones (EEZs). This means this country and the Pacific island nations share common development potentials and problems to be surmounted.” It added, “Expertise to be acquired through our aid for small Pacific Ocean island nations in the fields of environment and marine development promises to benefit Japan as well.” Regarding Japan’s EEZ development, on which full-fledged efforts have begun in recent years, the Yomiuri remarked, “. . . it is difficult to say this nation has been able to take full advantage of about 400 inhabited isolated islands and about 6,400 uninhabited islands in its territory, despite their potentiality as hubs for EEZ development.” It went on, “By advancing technological research on the generation of electricity through the utilization of tidal currents and differences in sea temperatures, and research into offshore fish farming, the government should promote the nation’s isolated islands and develop its EEZ.”

The Yomiuri also pointed to the present situation surrounding the Pacific island countries, noting that “China and Taiwan have been rolling out diplomatic initiatives to boost ties with small island nations in the Pacific by offering huge amounts of economic assistance.” It continued affirmatively, “Japan’s decision to use its environmental technologies as a main pillar of its aid for the Pacific island nations will highlight the difference between its international aid and China’s use of external assistance as leverage for its diplomatic gains.” The Yomiuri concluded, “We hope the Japanese government will respect the PIF framework while also increasing its cooperation with the forum’s members.”

The Sankei editorial (May 23), headlined “Island summit: A chance for Japan to display leadership,” praised the “Pacific Environment Community” document adopted at the summit, saying, “The goal of cooperating with the Pacific island countries, which face global warming, garbage disposal, and other environmental issues, through Japan’s excellent environmental technology and other means and aiming for sustainable development together . . . is a uniquely Japanese concept that suits the times.” The Sankei also emphasized the need for Japan to utilize the PALM summits as a “diplomatic asset.” It expressed hope for the roles of the EEZs of the countries and territories that participate in the summit, which are about five times larger than that of Japan, in terms of fishing rights, marine resources, and maritime transportation routes. In view of the increasing presence of China and the United States in the region, it added, “Japan should further utilize the summits to enhance its influence in the region.”

Regarding the assistance from Japan of 50 billion yen over the next three years, the Sankei commented that “In the present unprecedented recession, these are certainly not surplus funds” and requested, “We want these funds to be used for fruitful cooperation and assistance that satisfy the Japanese people as well as the island countries.” It also called for a follow-up in preparation for the next PALM summit and diplomacy toward the Pacific island countries that is characterized by consistency and continuity.

The Mainichi Shimbun editorial (May 25), titled “Island summit: Environmental cooperation will benefit the Earth,” drew attention to the fact that of the 50 billion yen in assistance, only 6.8 billion yen is for assistance in the environmental field. While proffering a certain degree of praise, saying that “Since global-scale countermeasures are essential to combat global warming, positive assistance is only natural,” it also pointed out that only a small amount had been allotted to assistance relating to the Cool Earth Partnership program for developing countries, which Japan has been implementing since 2008 with the aim of achieving both reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions and economic growth. The Mainichi suggested, “In view of the fact that the impact of global warming is most drastic in the Pacific island countries, . . . Japan should either increase this portion or create a separate mechanism for environment-related cooperation.”

In this connection, the Mainichi noted that people were asking “to what extent is Japan going to make efforts for the prevention of global warming?” While support for the Pacific island countries can be described as strategic assistance, it said, such assistance also “benefits the Earth.” In addition to such cooperation as solar power generation and seawater desalination, the Mainichi stressed, “It is also necessary to actively provide assistance to prevent damage from global warming and other threats.”

Under the headline “Make environment the axis for cooperation with the southern island countries,” The Nikkei editorial (May 26) praised the “Pacific Environment Community” concept proposed by Prime Minister Aso and the assistance totaling 50 billion yen announced by the Japanese government as “ways of strengthening cooperation based on environmental measures . . . very timely.” It also noted that “friendly relations with the island countries of the South Pacific are extremely important for Japan” in terms of sympathy toward Japan, their extensive EEZs and maritime transportation routes, and resource policies. The Nikkei continued, “China and Taiwan are vying to boost their influence [in this region], for example by holding similar summits.” Referring to the fact that “the Pacific island countries have one vote each in the United Nations,” it added, “For Japan, which is aiming to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, unremitting efforts to clinch the support of these friendly countries are essential.”

(Copyright 2009 Foreign Press Center, Japan)

*Japan Brief is an original production of the Foreign Press Center, Japan, and does not represent the views of the Government of Japan or of any other body.


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