On February 12th, representatives from Japan and the Pacific Island Countries (PIC) gathered to discuss the foundation of the upcoming 10th Tri-Annual Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting.
The meeting took place in Suva, the capital of Fiji, with the 18 representatives comprising the Pacific Island Nation Forum and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa. The main takeaway from the meeting is that both nations intend to maintain the status quo in the “international rule-based order.” As China continues to gain leverage in the region, this conclusion is a step further in solidifying the alliance they hold.
However, the PIC also voiced their growing concern about the safety of the treated wastewater Japan began to release into the Pacific Ocean and agreed with Japan’s explanations that were based on “scientific evidence.”
Japan highlighted the economic aid and disaster relief that contribute to the effort for stable and fair trade routes in the region during the summit.
