Helping others is also helping yourself.

Taking place amidst a backdrop of many nations accelerating their expansion of influence in the region, the 10th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM) presents an opportunity for Japan to increase its voice and standing with the island nations in the region.

Delegates attending the Pacific Island Nations Leaders' Conference. (Source: japan.kantei.go.jp)

On July 16th, in Tokyo, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio welcomed representatives from 18 members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) attending PALM 10. Taking place over three days, the conference focused on key issues affecting the region, from strengthening security to finding ways to respond to, mitigate, and adapt to increasingly severe climate change.

In his opening remarks at the conference, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio stated that Japan and the member countries “have cooperated closely to address common challenges, such as climate change and disaster response.” He also affirmed that “as we adapt together to changing circumstances, Tokyo will continue to move forward with the Pacific island nations and territories.”

Japan has a historical relationship with Pacific island nations. For more than two decades, since the first conference with Pacific island nations in 1997, Tokyo has consistently maintained a policy of supporting these countries in various fields, from maritime security to healthcare, education, and climate change adaptation. This policy has helped Tokyo expand its influence, enhance its image, and increase national interests in an increasingly attractive region.

Furthermore, Japan itself has a need for more substantive and effective cooperation with countries in the region to address the challenges posed by climate change, a problem that no single nation can successfully tackle alone. In particular, given that Pacific island nations are facing severe natural disasters due to climate change, some even at risk of being submerged, these countries, like Japan, also need genuine cooperation based on the principle of "helping others is helping ourselves."

Given this reality, one issue that Prime Minister Kishida will discuss in depth with member states is the discharge of treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant. In November 2023, leaders of the island nations issued a joint statement expressing “deep concern” about Japan’s discharge of radioactive wastewater. According to the French news agency AFP , speaking before the opening ceremony of the conference, Prime Minister Kishida said that Japan and the 18 member states “have cooperated closely to address common challenges, such as climate change and disaster response,” and affirmed that Tokyo “continues to stand with countries and territories in the Pacific region”…

However, in expanding cooperation with island nations in the region, Tokyo also faces increasingly fierce competition from major powers, particularly the role and influence of China. Many observers believe Japan still possesses several significant advantages. Firstly , in terms of approach, before offering any assistance package, Japan always carefully studies what its partners truly want and how to provide effective support, following the principle of "not giving fish, but giving a fishing rod." Secondly, Japan has strong economic potential and advanced science and technology, especially in the fields of monitoring, warning, and responding to natural disasters and climate change.

Clearly, PALM 10 is an important forum and a favorable opportunity for Japan and other countries to continue in-depth discussions, propose practical and effective measures to address common challenges in security, economics, and climate change, and strengthen cooperation to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in the region and in each country.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-nghi-cac-nha-lanh-dao-quoc-dao-thai-binh-duong-giup-nguoi-cung-la-giup-minh-279262.html