Japan And Pacific Archipelago Countries Reject Quo Status Change In The Region

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JAKARTA - Japan and Pacific island countries strongly reject unilateral efforts to change the status quo with violence or coercion, in a ministerial meeting amid China's increasing influence in the region. In a meeting in Fiji's capital, Suva, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said she agreed with her colleagues from 18 members of the Pacific Archipelago Forum on importance “ international regulatory-based rules,” while promising continued support to this strategic important region. According to the summary, Japan's release of radioactive waste water from the paralyzed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to the Pacific, which is also a concern of some forum members, ministers agreed on the importance of Japan providing an explanation based on “ scientific evidence.” The meeting was intended to lay the basis for the 10th Pacific Archipelago Leaders Meeting, scheduled for July in Tokyo. Japan has hosted a summit with Pacific island countries and territories every three years since 1997. "The ministers promised to continue close consultations in preparation for successful meetings," the summary said. "Towards this high-level conference, we will work together to address challenges, especially in climate change and maritime issues, to meet the needs of Pacific countries and territories," Kamikawa said as quoted by Kyodo/OANA via Antara, Monday, February 12. The Japanese government considers its partnership with the region important to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, amid increasing maritime assertiveness and China's economic influence. Tokyo helps these small countries and territories in various fields, from economic development, to climate change and resilience to natural disasters. On the signal the greater Beijing's reach to the Pacific, where the United States is also competing for influence, Nauru last month cut ties with Taiwan and supported mainland China. Nauru stated that he no longer recognizes the democratic island that has its own government as a "separated state," but as "part that cannot be separated from Chinese territory." A similar move to transfer diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China was also carried out in 2019 by Kiribati and Solomon Islands, which in 2022 signed a security agreement with Beijing. China, which considers Taiwan a defecting province, has not hidden its ambition to unite Taiwan with the mainland, and if necessary with violence. Beijing has also militarized outposts in the South China Sea disputed region and carried out repeated attacks on territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, a group of small islands in the East China Sea controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. Without referring to specific cases, the summary said that the ministers “ fought any war of aggression ” and they declared “ strong resistance to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo with violence or coercion anywhere in the world.” In an apparent effort to address potential concerns among several Pacific island countries about the wastewater from Fukushima nuclear power plant, Kamikawa explained its government position that the waste is "in accordance with relevant international safety standards and practices," and is committed to continuing to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Japan pays close attention to the sensitivity to the disposal of the wastewater, which Beijing has strongly opposed since before it began in August last year. Among other topics at Monday's meeting, the ministers expressed their great concern “ their concern over what they call North Korea's spike in the launch of ballistic missile technology, and asked Pyongyang to receive “ repeated dialogue offers,” including from Japan, America. America and South Korea. They also emphasized the importance of early reform of the United Nations Security Council (UN), including expanding the category of permanent and unpermanent membership, the summary said, touching on issues Japan is working on. The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) consists of Australia, Cook Islands, Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga,village, Vanuatu, and the opposite sea area of France. New Caledonia and French fire.