Japan in the Pacific
‘A Friend, First And Foremost’
Kazuo Kodama On Japan’s Role In The Pacific
Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is known for rotating bureaucrats from one department to the next before they become experts in any particular area. Kazuo Kodama, deputy director-general of the ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau and its Economic Cooperation Bureau, is an exception to the rule.
Kodama, who first worked on Pacific Island affairs almost a decade ago, is known for his in-depth knowledge of regional issues. Kodama, 50, joined the ministry in 1976, and was named director of the Oceania Division in 1994, a post he held for two years. His subsequent assignments included ministerial positions at Japan's embassies in the U.S. and India. He took up his current duties early this year.
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Pacific Magazine: What role does Japan wish to play in the region?
Kazuo Kodama: To put it in my own words, I would like the Pacific Island countries to perceive Japan as, of course, a friend, first and foremost-as a compassionate friend who can share their joy and happiness at seeing their own development, plus share the plights and challenges faced by these nations. We must understand their vulnerabilities. It is commonly said that Pacific Island countries have three vulnerabilities: their smallness, they are scattered all over, and distance is also a heavy handicap for their economic activities... We must understand these difficulties and work with our Island friends on how best to overcome them.
PM: How does the region figure into Japan's national strategic interests?
KK: The Pacific Island countries' share of our total bilateral overseas development assistance is around 1 to 1.5 percent. In terms of share, it's very small. There is no direct linkage between our assistance and a kind of return-that is not our intention at all. What I'm saying is that I think they accept our assistance as generous and they appreciate it, and in return, they have supported my government, I'd say in every possible international forum, such as the UN.
PM: Is Japan still interested in pursuing permanent Security Council membership, and what role can the Forum countries play in that area?
KK: To date, almost all the Forum countries have supported Japan's eligibility to be a new permanent member of the UN Security Council, if it is so reorganized.
PM: Is free trade now a priority for Japan everywhere in the Asia-Pacific, and how do the Pacific Islands fit in?
KK: The longstanding position of my government on the issue of global free trade is to focus on trade and trade liberalization negotiations in the World Trade Organization... But the fact remains that a new trend is emerging: Since it takes time for the global community to agree on a deal, why not pursue bilateral free-trade agreements? The Japanese government, on the record, has been rather reluctant to pursue that course of action. Naturally, in order not to harm our national interests, we have to seriously look at these negotiations.
PM: Does that include negotiations with the Pacific Islands?
KK: Forum countries find it difficult to compete in the global market as it stands... They are not competitive. Japan is now obliged to pursue free-trade agreements, but I don't think Forum countries need a bilateral FTA. They need a kind of support to make their products competitive in the global market.
PM: Some Pacific Island leaders apparently wanted to discuss that at the PALM Summit.
KK: We are aware of such a request from the Pacific Island countries… Every few years, the Japanese government decides on its own how to accord more preferential treatment to the products of the least-developed countries. We can't delineate Pacific Island countries only.
PM: Does Japan's involvement in the Solomon Islands indicate a more active regional security presence in the future?
KK: No I do not think so. It does not mean that our military presence in the region will be expanded, not at all. To the Solomons question, yes, there is the highest level of commitment from Prime Minister Koizumi to Prime Minister Howard. We supported the Australian initiative.
PM: One of Japan's priorities is continued access to the region's tuna resources. Why has Japan so far resisted a multilateral access agreement?
KK: As for specific fishing agreements, the logic of our position is that each Forum nation's endowment of resources is different... We think it's wise to conclude bilateral agreements based on how much we are allowed to catch in each EEZ area.
