Evaluation of the 8th Pacific Island Leaders Meeting (PALM 8)
Reception at the Hotel New Otani hosted by Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (May 17)
Japan Hon. Prime Minister Abe and two delegations from Tonga (Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Semisi Sika and Hon. Poasi Tei)
With the head of delegation from Fiji, Hon. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama
With the head of delegation from Tahiti, Hon. Heremoana Maamaatuiahutapu (Minister of Culture)
With the Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), Dame Meg Taylor
Pathway towards a new engagement philosophy
In delivering an independent evaluation report of PALM 8, Dr. Funaki was commissioned for this role not only as a Pacific Island Scholar residing in Japan for almost 20 years, but also because of his research exploring the approaches of Australia, France, Japan and China to Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the perspectives of three Pacific Island Countries (PICs). This article is an extract from the report Dr. Funaki wrote after interviewing Senior Government Officials (SGOs) who attended PALM with the Leaders from PICs. Dr. Funaki collected data from 32 participants representing 11 of the 16 PICs that participated in the PALM 8 summit. When approaching participants while conducting the research for this report, Dr. Funaki randomly selected questions in order to elucidate responses to the following concerns:
· Contribution of the PALM summit process towards unity of the PICs
· Significance of the PICs to the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy
· Potential spheres for Japan to promote Pacific regionalism as determined by the PICs
PALM 8 was unique in that it was the third time the phrase “We are islanders” was used in the PALM theme to rekindle the bond between Japan and the PICs. This notion might have been adopted from the PICs’ unifying philosophy expressed as “our sea of islands” (‘Epeli Hau’ofa), which depicts the PICs not as small and isolated in the great Pacific, but as sea of island countries in a water continent connected by the Blue Ocean. Right after the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake in 2011, the cooperation between Japan and the PICs was re-strengthened through the Okinawa 2012 PALM 6 having the theme ”We are islanders – For Growing ‘Kizuna’ in the Pacific.”This commitment was further heightened by the Fukushima 2015 PALM 7 “We are islanders – Building Prosperous Future Together”and the Fukushima 2018 PALM 8 “We are Islanders – Partnership towards a Prosperous, Free and Open Pacific.”In conjunction with this emphasis on a common identity shared between Japan and the PICs, PALM 8 was also the venue where the PICs were officially encompassed in Japan’s new foreign policy: “Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy” (FOIPS). Building further on this shared identity as islanders, for the first time Japan invited the French territories of Tahiti and New Caledonia to attend PALM as the newest members of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), which they joined in 2016.
The overarching and comprehensive concept of Japan’s FOIPS strategy emphasizes connectivity by combining the continents of Asia and Africa in addition to the Indian and Pacific oceans. Although many participants expressed the opinion that Japan’s strategy is a countermeasure to the existing Chinese Belt and Road initiative, they were excited to explore various possibilities through their common ocean identity. The idea of combing this existing Pacific philosophy with that of the Indian ocean is refreshing, but at the same time ambitious, because this idea is the first time that the possibilities to be found in combining the knowledge of these two ocean civilizations has been recognized. Accordingly, participants commended Japan for facilitating a new platform for exploring the potential contributions of the PICs to this global demand for the good of all.
Some of the challenges faced during PALM 8 referenced the relevance of the PICs in Japan’s FOIPS as the intentions behind the strategy were not appropriately explained. The first time the PICs were informed of their involvement in Japan’s FOIPS was at the first Senior Official Meeting (SOM) for PALM 8 held in Japan on March 8th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One participant specifically mentioned that they were informed of the content only 11 hours before it was scheduled to begin. Most participants said that they were not prepared for the meeting and wondered how Japan views their relationship given there was a common assumption that Japan and other countries connected to the FOIPS are at a different level of understanding from the form of engagement that Japan had in mind for the PICs. One of the major concerns was understanding the definition of what Japan meant by “Free and Open Pacific.” This question held top priority for participants, not only because the theme directly referenced the existence of the Pacific people, but also taking into consideration their perceptions as stewards of the sea and their Pacific Ocean identity.
Participants strongly acknowledged the appropriateness of Japanese ODA to the development necessities of the PICs, especially as regards infrastructure, energy and technical support, including areas related to natural disasters. Japan not only could relate directly to these PIC concerns as a development partner, but also as an island nation that is well aware of the best procedures related to these issues. In this regard, the emphasis of “we are islanders” was considered a unique sphere redefining the style of engagement between Japan and the PICs. Many participants acknowledged their common island character with Japan and argued that only Japan could understand the significance of protecting their cultural values and traditions while also evolving towards prosperity. It seems that the PICs were proposing that Japan assist them in identifying how to engage effectively with leading economies while maintaining their cultural identity with both the utmost ambition and the utmost humility. The concept of “capacity building” highlights this point, but unless Japan has an “islanders” version of capacity building, this concept will be nothing less than an additional program added to the existing soft politics conducted by other development partners in the region. Japan finally clarified the meaning of “free and open” a few days prior to the PALM meeting: “free” encapsulates the principles of freedom for navigation and overflight, including freedom from coercion. The term “open” refers to the open high sea, open sea-lanes and open commerce. Many participants expressed their satisfaction with PALM 8 as they secured projects that other PICs envied, not only because of the monetary amount involved, but also because of the uniqueness of such projects within the PICs.
Although the “we are islanders” portion of the PALM 8 theme was either forgotten or not prioritized, it could serve as a key philosophy for rekindling a joint island identity between Japan and the PICs. Having this philosophy as the core concept for the Japan-PIC relationship could lead to discovering spheres for engagement that only Japan can coordinate well. These spheres could be based on “islander development” and the mindset that allowed Japan to prosper while maintaining the traditional values and cultural knowledge that Japan is known for today. Japan supporting the PICs in identifying which values to promote, values that would be crucial to maintaining their dignity, could open a pathway for the PICs to gain empowerment through knowing how to enrich others with what they have. This background signifies that the PICs envision a shared future with Japan as their only development partner experienced in this particular development process. Encouraging a one-way engagement relationship not only creates dependency, but also leads to loss of dignity and disempowerment of the peace-loving nature shared by Japan and the PICs. On the other hand, setting up an engagement style incorporating this “islanders” philosophy could lead to the development of future models and also benefit other developing countries having a background similar to that of the PICs.
From the experiences discussed above and the conclusions reached, Dr. Funaki suggested a paradigm shift to reconsider priorities, reshape discussions and to rephrase concepts. The idea is to discuss the possibility of shifting from “helping you, help yourself,” the current ODA concept, to recognizing the appropriateness of “helping you to help us” (help each other) as rooted in the original philosophy of Japanese ODA after World War II. In seeking to rekindle this island philosophy and the connections between Japan and the PICs, there is the option for Japan to compete for the respect of being “Number One” globally while simultaneously exploring the benefits of the “Only One” approach with the PICs. This “Only One” approach would pave the way for Japan to be a facilitator by coordinating with the United States, Australia and New Zealand on how best to empower the PICs using the cultural perspectives that come from within by utilizing the region’s existing knowledge and skills. This alternative approach could lead to better management of the region’s resources for the good of all, and a pathway for the PICs to re-articulate what and how they could offer back, to contribute to the world as dignified members of the international community.
* This work was commissioned by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF). The views expressed on the full report and on this version are Dr. Funaki’s and not of SPF.
*Pictures: Funaki
Leaders of Japan and Pacific Islands arriving in Iwaki ( Yumoto station, Fukushima Prefecture)
Around Yumoto Station
Leaders at the Iwaki Hawaiians Resort
With Mr. Monsieur Manuel TERAI of Tahiti (Permanent Secretary)
With Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya of Fiji, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Lands & Mineral Resources
At Yumoto Station