Japan Affirms Timely Support for Pacific Islands on Statehood Issues

By Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson in Tokyo

As Japanese lawmakers were in the process of selecting a new prime minister, the Government of Japan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Pacific island nations in their efforts to maintain statehood in the face of the climate crisis.

During a briefing for journalists from Pacific and Caribbean island nations in Tokyo, Ryuji Iwasaki, Senior Deputy Director of the Oceania Division in Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed the country’s commitment to preserving existing maritime baselines despite land loss due to rising sea levels.

The loss of territory could jeopardize the status of Pacific Island nations as sovereign states under international law.

Iwasaki referenced outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s remarks at the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) earlier this year, where Kishida endorsed the 2021 Pacific Islands Forum Declaration on Preserving Maritime Zones in the face of climate-related sea-level rise. “This is the position of the Japanese Government, and I know that this is very important for the Pacific Islands,” Iwasaki  said, highlighting Japan’s alignment with the concerns of Pacific leaders.

He reaffirmed that the Japanese government recognized the importance and urgency of international cooperation on this issue, and it is committed, along with Pacific leaders, to contributing to discussions in the International Law Commission regarding applicable international law to address what they call an “unprecedented situation.”

These comments from the Japanese government come a week after 39 presidents and prime ministers of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) issued a Declaration on Sea Level Rise and Statehood during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The declaration notes that, consistent with international law, countries will retain their statehood, sovereignty, and UN membership, regardless of the impacts of sea-level rise.

“The climate crisis and sea-level rise have been alarm bells since 1989, and we have faced their devastating impacts with resilience. Our states, maritime zones, and rights remain intact under international law, no matter the rising seas: we are here to stay,” said Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa and current Chair of AOSIS, at the announcement of the Declaration. Iwasaki affirmed Japan’s ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific Island countries in line with the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 strategy, which prioritizes climate change, ocean, and environmental issues. Japan aims to foster a collaborative environment to help these nations navigate the challenges posed by climate change.

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This story is produced by The New Atoll as part of the Association for Promotion of International Cooperation (APIC) Japan Journalism Fellowship for Pacific and Caribbean Island journalists.