Pacific island leaders agree to enhance Japan's role in the region amid growing China influence
Leaders of 18 Pacific island nations and areas have agreed to an enhanced role of Japan in the region’s development while opposing any attempted coercive activity, as Tokyo seeks greater engagement to counter China’s influence
TOKYO — Leaders of 18 Pacific island nations and areas agreed to an enhanced role of Japan in the region's development while opposing any attempted coercive activity, in a joint declaration adopted at their summit Thursday, as Tokyo seeks greater engagement to counter China's influence.
The Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting, or PALM, launched under a Japanese initiative in 1997, has become Japan’s key diplomatic tool to deter China’s security and economic influence in the region by strengthening its ties with the Pacific Island Forum members, stressing its willingness to stand by them and maintaining unity as an equal partner.
The leaders agreed that Japan provides greater support and cooperation in climate change, maritime security and defense, economic development and other areas, according to the joint declaration.
They noted climate change as “the single greatest existential threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of the peoples of the Pacific” and showed their commitment to elevating their collaboration to support the region in mitigating and adapting to <a class=«zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE » data-testid=«prism-linkbase» href=«https://abcnews.go.com/The» leaders noted the climate change as single greatest existential threat to livelihoods security and well-being of peoples pacific showed their commitment elevating collaboration support region in mitigating adapting impacts change.>the impacts of climate change.
The declaration emphasized the “primacy” of
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