Japan and Pacific islands against any change by force in the region – Observer

Japan and the Pacific islands expressed firm opposition to “any unilateral attempt to change the status quo through the threat or use of force or coercion” at a joint summit today, in a veiled reference to Beijing.

The terms used in the joint statement are regularly used by the United States and its allies to refer to China’s growing influence and military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific.

Tokyo and representatives of the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which counts Timor-Leste as an associate member, did not explicitly mention Beijing after the three-day meeting in the Japanese capital.

However, the terms used in the final declaration of this 10th triennial Pacific Island Leaders’ Summit (PALM) are stronger than those used in the previous meeting, held in 2021.

Os leaders pledged to ensure a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific region, noted with concern the rapid military buildup which is not conducive to this objective and called for proactive, responsible and transparent engagement to maintain regional peace and security,” the statement said.

With the support of the United States, Japan has strengthened its defense cooperation in the highly contested Asia-Pacific region, where China also offers support in infrastructure and security.

Ships carrying vital energy imports to Japan pass through the waterways surrounding the Forum members, which are also important fishing grounds for Tokyo.

“O The environment around us has changed a lot since the first PALM summit and we are facing complex challenges,” said Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

In particular, China signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in 2022 that was kept secret for some time.

In January, PIF member Nauru severed ties with Taiwan in favor of Beijing. Since then, only 12 states in the world have diplomatically recognized Taipei, including Palau, another member of the Forum.

Thursday’s statement calls for a “free, open and sustainable maritime order based on the rule of law.”

“The PALM partners (…) will strengthen defense exchanges through port calls in the Pacific for Japanese Self-Defense Forces aircraft and ships,” the document said.