PALM and Fiji

At the last PALM in 2012, according to a Fiji Newspaper, the Japanese government did not invite Bainimarama, instead they invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke. This news article also mentioned that this was a result of pressure from the Australian government to Japan, with Fiji deciding not to send a delegate.

Now that Fiji has had an election last September and have a democratic government, everybody, especially Australia, thought that Fiji would come back to PIF, but they did not. As such, what will be happen with the next PALM later this year which is co-organized with PIF?

I found an interview in an article with the Fijian Ambassador to Japan.

Focus: What Palm Summit Means To Fiji
http://fijisun.com.fj/2015/01/30/focus-what-palm-summit-means-to-fiji/


He clearly mentioned that:

“Fiji’s attendance at PALM7 is not a foregone conclusion. Fiji will have to be invited first.”

I fully understand and support the Ambassador’s comment. In some sense Japan made Fiji’s lose face in the past, however, does the next comment on Japan by the Ambassador tell us a different message to Japan?


“Japan did not terminate its diplomatic relations with Fiji following the change in government in Fiji in late 2006. This was in sharp contrasts to other countries, which suspended diplomatic relations with Fiji.
This was a sign of maturity in Japanese diplomacy because they kept the door open for dialogue with Fiji – which was essential in promoting understanding during those difficult days. The first few years 2007-2012, were difficult years in Fiji – Japan bilateral relations. Since the Japanese Parliamentary Election in December 2012, the new Japanese Government has been more willing to engage with Fiji.”

Japan should invite Fiji no matter if Fiji is a member of PIF or not. I would like to recommend that both Japan and the PIF Chair – i.e the co-chair of next PALM,　the Japanese PM Abe, and Palau President Remengesau, send an invitation letter to Fiji. This is the way to allow Fiji to keep face.
PIF was established by Fiji to prior the Island nations voice, and in this sense Fiji should be treated special.

I would like to share the background of Micronesia’s sub-regional movement. There are many reasons, but one of them was that the Micronesian leaders were sick of the hegemony of Australia and NZ in PIF.

Japan took leadership to ASEAN – regional framework of Asia, even though we were not a member of them. Japan has a role to show “bully” Australia and NZ what is “invisible leadership”.

Last not but least, I would like to answer Ambassador questioned about the US presence in PALM.
I made a suggestion to Gaimusho to include US in last PALM, why?
1. North Pacific is US backyard. Micronesian countries have a strong relationship with US – Free Association.
2. US has the largest EEZ in the world and more than 50% of them are located in the Pacific Ocean.
3. I respect Australia and NZ’s efforts, but the US and Japan is the first and third largest economies in the world could do more for Pacific Islands along with Aust, and NZ.
4. As the result Japan-US cooperation for the Pacific will lead to a new direction of the Japan-US alliance.

島サミットとフィジー

2006年のフィジーのクーデター以来、島サミットへの参加が見送られたと理解している。
特に前回の2012年は豪州政府が日本政府（野田政権）に圧力をかけたとの見解がフィジーのニュースにあった。

島サミットにパプアニューギニアとフィジーが参加しなかったワケ
https://blog.canpan.info/yashinomi/archive/601

昨年９月の選挙を終えたフィジー。過去の太平洋のレジーム、即ち豪州NZを中心とする英連邦レジームに戻るかと、即ちPIFに戻るかと思ったら戻らなかった。豪州NZのいるPIFに戻りません、と。
そうなるとPIFをカウンターパートとしている島サミットへの参加はどうなるであろうか？と気になっている。

Fiji Sunに本件に関して在日フィジー大使のインタビューが掲載されていた。インタビューはPacific Islands SocietyというNGOが昨年の10月に実施したもののようである。

Focus: What Palm Summit Means To Fiji
http://fijisun.com.fj/2015/01/30/focus-what-palm-summit-means-to-fiji/


島サミット参加について、大使は

“Fiji’s attendance at PALM7 is not a foregone conclusion. Fiji will have to be invited first.”

と述べている。とても島人らしい回答である。
急に招待されたからと嬉々として参加するかどうかはわかりません。そりゃそうであろう。過去に面子を潰されたのだ。

しかし次のコメントが参加の意向がある事を臭わせていないだろうか？

Japan did not terminate its diplomatic relations with Fiji following the change in government in Fiji in late 2006. This was in sharp contrasts to other countries, which suspended diplomatic relations with Fiji.
This was a sign of maturity in Japanese diplomacy because they kept the door open for dialogue with Fiji – which was essential in promoting understanding during those difficult days. The first few years 2007-2012, were difficult years in Fiji – Japan bilateral relations. Since the Japanese Parliamentary Election in December 2012, the new Japanese Government has been more willing to engage with Fiji.

日本は豪州NZが制裁を加えたのと違って常に対話の窓口を開いていた。特に安倍政権になってフィジーへの関与を強めている、と大使は日本の対応を評価しているのである。

日本政府にはフィジーがPIFメンバーであろうがなかろうが、正式招待する事を提案したい。できれば議長国日本の安倍総理とパラオのレメンゲサウ大統領と共に参加要請をしたらどうであろうか？これでフィジーの面子は立つ。
PIFは元々フィジーが島嶼国の声を優先させるために設立した組織である。その意味でもフィジーは特別なのだ。

そしてそれは結果的に、bullyな態度を取ってきた豪州、NZに地域協力における真のリーダーシップの在り方を示す事になると思う。