Tarte, Sandra

University of the South Pacific Electronic Research Repository

East Asia ForumEconomics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asiaand the Pacifichttp://www.eastasiaforum.orgJapan’s Pacific Islands diplomacy at a crossroads24th May, 2012Author: Sandra Tarte, USPJapan’s decision not to invite Fiji’s prime minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, to the sixthJapan–Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM 6), to be held in Okinawa this 25–26 May,represents a defining moment in its diplomatic relations with the Pacific Islands.Japan announced that due to the perceived ‘insufficient pace of reform towarddemocratisation’, it would invite Fiji’s foreign minister instead (who subsequently gave hisapologies). That this announcement came just one week ahead of the meeting is an indicationof what a difficult decision this was for the Japanese government. In addition to the immediateconsequences for Japan–Fiji relations, this decision has broader implications.The PALM summits have been held every three years in Japan since 1997, and are Tokyo’ssignature event in its foreign relations with the Pacific Islands. They normally bring together theheads of government from Japanese and Pacific Island countries, plus ministerial-levelrepresentation from Australia and New Zealand. Although in the past they have been dubbedthe Japan–Pacific Islands Forum meeting, the PALM summit is not technically a Forum event.Fiji remains suspended from the Pacific Islands Forum pending its return to democratic rule, but it is not officially excluded [1] from the PALM process.In October 2010 Japan hosted the first Interim PALM meeting — a mid-term gathering of PacificIslands Forum foreign ministers in Tokyo. This was ostensibly aimed at assessing the progressin the implementation of commitments made at the previous year’s PALM summit and lookingahead to the next one. Most significantly, however, it was a first step toward normalising tieswith Bainimarama’s government, and was the occasion for the first meeting between Fiji’sforeign minister and his Japanese counterpart. During the 2010 Interim PALM meeting Tokyoindicated its concerns that the policy of isolating Fiji [2] to pressure it into more meaningful                               page 1 / 3East Asia ForumEconomics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asiaand the Pacifichttp://www.eastasiaforum.orgdemocratic reforms was failing, and this was taken as a positive sign that Prime MinisterBainimarama would receive an invitation to PALM 6.Since then, Japan has watched events unfold in Fiji and in the region, waiting for the rightmoment to issue the invitation. As the head of the Fiji Military Forces, Prime MinisterBainimarama has not been allowed to travel to Japan since he came to power in the December2006 coup. He has, however, made numerous visits to China and to other Asian powerhousessuch as Indonesia and India [3], and to new friends in the Middle East.Japan had compelling reasons for inviting the Fijian prime minister to Okinawa this year. First, ithas been six years since Fiji was last represented at PALM at a prime ministerial level. It missedout on PALM 5 in 2009 due to the political upheaval Fiji was undergoing at the time, includingthe abrogation of the constitution and subsequent uncertainty over the country’s democraticfuture. The 2012 PALM summit is the last one before elections in Fiji, which are scheduled for2014. Inviting Fiji’s prime minister would have signalled Japan’s support for the politicalprocess mapped out by the Bainimarama government. Despite its perceived flaws, this politicalprocess remains the only hope Fiji has of returning to some form of democratic rule.PALM 6 also represented an opportunity for Japan both to rebuild bridges with this key actor inthe region, and to acknowledge that the Pacific Islands is a region in transition [4]. In the sixyears since he seized power, Prime Minister Bainimarama has redefined Fiji’s foreign policy,and these changes have led a growing number of Pacific Island countries to embrace newpartnerships and alignments [5]. A new diplomacy that is not contingent on the policypreferences of Australia, New Zealand or the US seems to be emerging across the region,indirectly prompted by Bainimarama.If, as reported, Japan’s decision not to invite Prime Minister Bainimarama to PALM 6 was theresult of international pressure, from Australia in particular [6], it signals a reaffirmation by Japanof the ‘old regional order’ and a rejection of the ‘new regional order’ that is gradually takingshape. As Japan’s prime minister welcomes Pacific leaders in Okinawa, including ministersfrom Australia and New Zealand, he may do well to reflect on the long-term significance of Fiji’sempty seat.Sandra Tarte is Associate Professor and Director of the Politics and International AffairsProgram at the University of the South Pacific [7] in Suva, Fiji.Article from the East Asia Forum: http://www.eastasiaforum.orgURL to article:http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/05/24/japan-s-pacific-islands-diplomacy-at-a-crossroads/[1] it is not officially excluded: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2009/05/06/fiji-and-the-forum/[2] the policy of isolating Fiji:http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/01/13/fijis-search-for-new-friends-2/                               page 2 / 3East Asia ForumEconomics, Politics and Public Policy in East Asiaand the Pacifichttp://www.eastasiaforum.org[3] Asian powerhouses such as Indonesia and India: http://www.indiannewslink.co.nz/index.php/archives2012/march_1_2012/bainimarama-seeks-better-diplomatic-ties.html[4] is a region in transition: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/12/07/a-pacific-model-of-growth/[5] embrace new partnerships and alignments: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2010/05/22/nadarivatu-hydro-scheme-a-chinese-fijian-partnership-with-both-pros-and-cons/[6] from Australia in particular: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2011/05/20/dilemmas-facing-australia-s-fiji-policy/[7] University of the South Pacific: http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=8812Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)                               page 3 / 3

Japan’s Pacific Islands diplomacy at a crossroads

http://repository.usp.ac.fj/8858/1/japan%2Ds%2Dpacific%2Dislands%2Ddiplomacy%2Dat%2Da%2Dcrossroads.pdf

Japan’s Pacific Islands diplomacy at a crossroads

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of the South Pacific Electronic Research Repository