Japan seeks to counter China’s expanding influence in Pacific by strengthening ties with Island Nations

TOKYO – Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed Japan’s intention to strengthen ties with 14 Pacific Island nations through such means as personnel exchanges and building a relationship based on multilayered cooperation, at the third Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue which concluded on Tuesday.

China seeks to expand its influence over the island nations by providing vast sums in so-called aid. With this in mind, the Japanese government aims to expand the network of cooperation to include the United States, Australia, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and others.

Koizumi emphasized the importance of partnering with the Pacific Island nations,…