What type of cooperation with the Pacific Islands? Japan and France’s visions after the 10th PALM Summit in Tokyo
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In July, Japan held the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM Summit) in Tokyo. This summit served as a significant milestone to demonstrate Japan’s heightened involvement in the region. In recent years, the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) have been actively courted by China.
Beijing has been extending its influence in the region via increasingly attractive offers of funding and cooperation, leading to situations of debt issues and high vulnerability of these States. In addition, China has started to sign security cooperation agreements, including with the Solomon Islands.
Japan and other like-minded countries such as Australia, the United States and France have thus been stepping up their engagement in the region. Their aim is to offer a liberal alternative to China by increasing the funds earmarked for the sustainable development of Pacific Island countries, while promoting the principles of transparency and debt sustainability and upholding international norms and standards. The idea is also to encourage private investment, generate more political dialogue, reinforce the diplomatic presence to counterbalance Beijing, and ensure a greater economic, climate and political resilience of the PICs.
This webinar will be held online, in English.
PROGRAM
- Hideyuki SHIOZAWA, Director, Division of Island Nations of the Ocean Policy Research Institute, SPF, Tokyo
- Véronique ROGER-LACAN, French Ambassador to the Pacific
- Sandra TARTE, Associate Professor, Acting Head of School (SoLaSS), Director Politics and International Affairs Program, University of South Pacific, Fiji
Chair: Céline PAJON, Head of Japan Research, French Institute of International Relations (Ifri)
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Céline PAJON
Research Fellow, Head of Japan and Indo-Pacific Research, Center for Asian Studies, Ifri
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