TSD PACIFIC WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SASAKAWA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TOKYO 000998 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL JA AS XV SUBJECT: TSD PACIFIC WORKING GROUP MEETING AND SASAKAWA FOUNDATION'S FAS COAST GUARD PROJECT REF: TOKYO 895 Classified By: CDA James P. Zumwalt per 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: U.S., Japanese and Australian government officials met April 23 at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to conduct a regular session of the Trilateral Strategic Dialogue (TSD) Pacific Working Group. The representatives provided updates on a range of policy and operational issues, including addressing the current political situation in Fiji, and Japan's plans for the upcoming Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM5). The representatives also shared their views and analyses of the China-Taiwan rivalry in the South Pacific. In a separate meeting at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF),the organization's director discussed SPF's efforts to build a coast guard for the Freely Associated States. End Summary. -------------- TSD PARTICIPATION AND FORMAT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) At the April 23 TSD Pacific Working Group meeting, the United States was represented by EAP/ANP Deputy Director Stephen Schwartz and Embassy Tokyo, Japan was represented by Director of the Oceania Division of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kiminori Iwama, and the Australian delegation was headed by First Assistant Secretary, Pacific Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Richard Rowe. The meeting comprised a series of briefings and updates on a number of issues and initiatives of trilateral interest, focusing on potential areas for expanded trilateral cooperation at the policy and operational levels. -------------- FIJI A MAJOR SOURCE OF CONCERN -------------- ¶3. (C) Leading the session on Fiji, Rowe stated that the Government of Australia (GOA) considers the interim government in power since 2006 an "illegal one," and that it is "for all intents and purposes, a military dictatorship." The challenge is how best to foster a return to democracy. Commodore Bainimarama has up to this point seemed "impervious" and unconcerned about possible suspension from both the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) and the Commonwealth. For its part, Australia will continue to maintain a travel ban, but will not expand sanctions to include sports and trade at this time. Australia will also continue trying to restart negotiations led by the Commonwealth and the United Nations. The GOA strongly believes that the international community must not "step away" until the interim government's proposed elections in 2014, as to do so would be to confer legitimacy on an illegal regime. ¶4. (C) MOFA's Iwama concurred with the assessment that the situation in Fiji continues to worsen, adding that it would be difficult for Japan to invite Fijian government officials to the upcoming PALM5 event in Japan if Fiji does not reconsider its recent actions (REFTEL). The decision on Fiji's invitation will be made at a very high level, he noted, although he did leave open the possibility that working-level officials may be allowed to participate even if ministerial participation is deemed unacceptable. -------------- JAPAN'S PALM5 PLANS -------------- ¶5. (C) Iwama said that the upcoming PALM 5 event will focus on three areas: "Eco-friendliness," the promotion of human security, and expanding people-to-people exchanges. Japan hopes to use the upcoming summit meeting to promote regional cooperation in addressing climate change and environmental protection, including through its own "Cool Earth Partnership." Japan's Pacific Island Fund will utilize Japanese technology to combat climate change and environmental problems, and Iwama expressed hope that the supplemental budget being deliberated this week will allocate $700 million to this fund. Regarding human security, the Japanese government wants to promote exchanges of experts and volunteers who can contribute technical know-how in fields TOKYO 00000998 002 OF 003 such as tourism promotion, fresh water supply, and education. People-to-people exchanges between Pacific island nations and Japan, as well as ASEAN members will also be discussed at PALM5. -------------- CHINA-TAIWAN RIVALRY IN THE PACIFIC -------------- ¶6. (C) Iwama asked rhetorically if there had been a change in China-Taiwan rivalry dynamics since the change in administrations in Taiwan. In terms of the two countries' activities in the Pacific, he said that Japan is currently researching what type of assistance each is offering island nations, and will translate and share this information after PALM5. Because Japan's offices in the region are limited, he also asked for reciprocal information sharing on the part of the USG and the GOA. Schwartz agreed with Japan's assessment that a "truce" of sorts is holding between China and Taiwan in this region, and that the two countries seem satisfied with the status quo in terms of Taiwan's recognition by some governments there. Schwartz remarked that China's interest appears to be primarily in economic benefits (mostly natural resources available in Papua New Guinea). ¶7. (C) Australia's position dovetailed with those of the United States and Japan, Rowe said. While there is a natural concern about possible rivalry between China and Taiwan in the Pacific, China has legitimate interests in the region which must be considered and even welcomed. Key to any approach must be the avoidance of destabilizing activities by the Chinese that could affect good governance, and hence GOA has urged China to be transparent in its assistance activities, and to work with other donors in the region. Rowe recommended a similar strategy with Taiwan, emphasizing continued engagement with both, and the hope of "bringing them in" to common Pacific endeavors. ¶8. (C) A side issue discussed at the luncheon was China's activities in Fiji, which Australia and Japan described as worrisome. Iwama remarked that while there is a truce in most parts of the region, the exception may be Fiji, which hosts both a Chinese embassy and a Taiwan Trade office. Iwama said that there is concern over China's deepening involvement in the Fijian interim government, and said that some senior officials in MOFA have likened China's relationship with Fiji's government to its relationship with Burma. Rowe as well noted a "quickening tempo" in relations between China and Fiji, and characterized this appearance of support for the Bainimarama government as a cause for concern. Schwartz said China's relationship with Fiji is worth watching closely, but suggested that a Chinese embrace of Fiji would have negative ramifications for Beijing in the Pacific. -------------- MEETING WITH SASAKAWA FOUNDATION -------------- ¶9. (C) Separately, ANP Deputy Director Schwartz met April 24 with Jiro Hanyu, the Director of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF). Hanyu outlined SPF's plans to bolster maritime security by creating a unified coast guard for the Freely Associated States, emphasizing the SPF's desire to build upon contributions provided by Australia already in place. Hanyu said that non-traditional security issues, such as overfishing of waters and smuggling, make such a force useful, and he sees a place for private sector assistance like Sasakawa's in the fields of training and capacity building. SPF is eager to assist in the creation of a training center with a capacity of 30-50 people, a dormitory to house trainees, and three to four boats, one 20-30 meters in side, and the rest 2-3 man smaller craft. Schwartz said the USG wanted the combined coast guard project to adopt the most efficient means available to increase capacity, such as ensuring there was fuel for boats. A training center might be helpful only if there was a need and provision was made to provide for the operational costs in the out years. ¶10. (C) Hanyu suggested that if Australia can help with boat acquisition, SPF may be able to create a "fuel fund" to keep the boats fueled. Communications equipment and infrastructure are also areas that SPF may be able to make a contribution. Hanyu closed by noting that after completing a TOKYO 00000998 003 OF 003 survey in Palau, he hopes to visit Canberra, possibly in early June, to share information and discuss potential areas of cooperation between SPF activities and Australian efforts. ZUMWALT