Foreign ministers to discuss aid to Pacific islands

Japan, the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand are arranging a meeting of their foreign ministers in New York to discuss support for Paci c Island nations, in tandem with the U.N. General Assembly late this month, it has been learned.

China is expanding its in uence over Paci c Island nations through economic assistance, and the ve countries aim to counter these moves by working together to enhance their development assistance in the region, according to several government sources.

In June this year, the ve countries established the Partners in the Blue Paci c (PBP), a framework to support the Paci c islands, and have been holding high-level talks. e next meeting will upgrade these discussions to the foreign ministerial level.

e ve countries will also explore ways to strengthen cooperation with the island nations in areas such as countermeasures for natural disasters and maritime surveillance.

Since 1997, Japan has held the Paci c Islands Leaders Meeting every three years, inviting the leaders of the island nations to deepen relations. Japan intends to show its leadership in the cooperation among the ve countries, drawing on the expertise it has accumulated in supporting the island nations.

China has used its massive economic power as leverage to strengthen its presence in the Indo-Paci c region. In April, it concluded a security agreement with the Solomon Islands, and in May, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting of foreign ministers from 10 island nations in Fiji.

In August, a U.S. patrol vessel was denied port calls to the Solomon Islands.

e United States is increasingly concerned about China’s penetration into the Paci c Islands. It is expected to hold a summit meeting with the island nations in Washington in late September to convey the importance it places on the Paci c Islands. (Sept. 13)