2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)2Month,Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)which is a member of the5Two nations (Palau, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru) withdrew from the Forum.representationThe Forum was the first of its kind in the region. The forum celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021 and was the largest and most extensive of its kind in the region, encompassing approximately 8.5 million square kilometers and 39 million people. Until now,What is the history of the Pacific countries? What is the Forum's structure and what role has it played?5What exactly is behind the decision by the three countries to withdraw from the Forum? Furthermore, what is the background to the5Is it possible for countries to return to the forum in the future?

Pacific Islands Forum logo (Photo:Germenfer / Wikimedia Commons [CC0 1.0])

History of the Pacific Islands

The islands of the Pacific OceancultivationHa,2It is characterized by two waves. Approximately4For 10,000 years.6In the course of the first wave, dating back 10,000 years, settlers reached the island of New Guinea and Australia. After a considerable period of time, the second wave arrived about5,000Beginning two years ago, immigrants from Southeast Asia who developed nautical skills and the first wave of natives headed eastward to the remote islands of the Pacific Ocean.emergingThe first islands of the region were established in the 1960s and 1970s. Over the following years, the development of new islands and the expansion of trade continued,1200By 1949, settlers had reached what is now New Zealand and Easter Island, and most islands in the Pacific region werecultivationwere. The second wave of immigrants had the same roots, hence most languages in the region wereAustronesian languagesand each region has its own language and cultural branches.

Afterwards,16century Portuguese explorers visited the Mariana Islands, and the Pacific region, mainly by the British, French, German, and Spanishcolonial ruleThe first time the Pacific region was invaded by Europeans, they saw it as a place where "savages" lived. European countries saw the Pacific region as a place where "uncivilized natives" lived, and they built plantations for its resources and recruited workers from other colonies in South Asia and elsewhere.I'll bring him in.The local people were treated harshly for doing so.19By the end of the century, the United States also began to expand into the Pacific region. As a result of the war with Spain, Guam became an American colony, and at the same timeHawaiiand ... andEastern Samoaalso became U.S. territory, and exploitation of locally obtained resources and labor began to take place.

After World War I, many territories occupied by Germany, such as New Guinea, Nauru, and Western Samoa, were included in the League of NationsmandateThe Japanese colonial rule was then redefined as "colonial rule by Australia and Japan. In effect, however, the composition of the islands simply changed to one of colonial rule by Australia and Japan, which had been delegated the territory. When World War II began, many of the islands were occupied by Japan, and a large scalebattletook place. After the war, as many of the islands were placed under U.S. trusteeship, a gradual movement toward decolonization was underway. Western Samoa (*1) gained independence in 1962, followed by Nauru, Tonga, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.independent state or nationwas created, and Palau gained independence in 1994. However, even today, French Polynesia and New Caledonia are still part of the Frenchsomeand Guam belongs to a U.S. Territory, for example, not all regions have achieved independence. In addition, the United States, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau have concludedArticles of Confederation of the Free Association (1910)The influence of the former sovereign countries remains significant, as seen in the case of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, which have signed a free association agreement with New Zealand. In addition, the countries that have won independence have small land and few resources, so their main sources of income are tourism, fishing, and Official Development Assistance (ODA) from other countries.

Pacific countries are Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia (*2) for convenience andclassificationThe classification is based on the geography of the area and the culture of the inhabitants. This classification was proposed 200 years ago by French explorers based on natural geography and the culture of the inhabitants. Although it is now known that this classification is no longer accurate, it has remained generally accepted and is of importance to the Pacific Islands Forum. For historical and economic reasons, Australia has historically been associated with Melanesia and New Zealand with Polynesia.

What is the Pacific Islands Forum?

1971in 1949 to discuss common issues among South Pacific countries.South Pacific Forum (SPF)The Forum was established to address the political issues of the many islands that were not yet independent. At the beginning, many of the islands were not yet independent, and the forum focused on political issues such as the movement for independence, but gradually a wide range of topics were taken up.

1973counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)4In May, a permanent body dealing with economic issues, theSouth Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization (SPEC)was established to promote cooperation among members in a wide range of areas, including trade, tourism, and economic development. In addition, the French PolynesianMoruroa AtollThe nuclear tests were repeated in the wake of the1985The South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Rarotonga) was signed in 1949.enactmentThe treaty was signed in 1972. The treaty banned the use, testing, and storage of nuclear weapons in the South Pacific and contributed to the expansion of a nuclear-free zone in the Southern Hemisphere.

The South Pacific Economic Cooperation Organization is1988The name was changed to "South Pacific Forum Secretariat" in 2006. As the implementing body of the General Assembly, the Secretariat was also established in Suva, the capital of Fiji, with the authority to put into practice the decisions made by the Forum. And,1990By the 1980s, the North Pacific countries had also begun to participate in the Forum,2000Name changed from South Pacific Forum in 2006.Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)The name of the Forum has been changed to the "Forum of Heads of State and Government". The annual Forum Summit is chaired by the Presidency, but the Secretary General, the head of the Secretariat that is in place to implement the decisions of the Forum, has been elected by individuals rather than by national representatives.

The Forum's office, located in Suva, the capital of Fiji (photo:Henning Blatt / Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 3.0])

The forum is organized by the United Nations and thepartnershipThe Pacific nations have been working together to advocate for the issues facing the region in international politics, such as trade, fisheries, and environmental issues. The Pacific nations are among the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, which threatens their very existence, and the Micronesian nations, among others, have repeatedly sought to promote climate change initiatives at the United Nations and within the Forum.

Which regimes, or even which countries, can participate in the forum has been a source of controversy. Fiji, for example, and Fiji's interim Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who came to power in a coup,2009For the first time at the Forum in 2006, the Forum did not hold the elections promised by the Forum on time.Countries with Suspended ParticipationThe first time this happened, the government was declared illegitimate and unconstitutional by the national courts. In the same year, after the country's courts ruled that the interim government was illegitimate and unconstitutional, Bainimarama2014He declared that elections would be held by the year 2000.2013The new constitution was promulgated in 1949, and the following year2014General elections were held in Fiji in 2006 and Prime Minister Bainimarama was reappointed. The process of democratization was approved, and Fiji was invited to participate in the Forum that same year.returnThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

The Forum is also increasingly allowing the participation of islands that have not yet become independent states.2016In 2006, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, which had been under French rule for many years, were newly included in the forum through the support of Australia and New Zealand.participationThe U.S. territory of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which are classified as part of the Micronesia region, however, remain observers to the Forum. However, the U.S. territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, which are classified as part of the Micronesian region, still remain in the position of observers to the forum.

Background of Withdrawal

I mentioned at the beginning of this article,2021in the year5The decision by the three countries to withdraw from the Forum caused the biggest crisis in the Forum's history. It all started when former Secretary-General6Upon expiration of the one-year term,2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)2The selection of the Forum's new Secretary-General, who will begin his term in June, is an unspoken agreement between Melanesia, Polynesia and Micronesia. There is an unspoken understanding that the position of Secretary General of the Forum rotates among Melanesia, Polynesia, and Micronesia, and it should have been Micronesia's turn to give priority to its views in the selection of the new Secretary General candidate. For this reason,5The two Micronesian countries are in agreement that the Micronesian nominee for Secretary-General will be theassumptionThe company is a member of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), a non-profit organization,2019counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)5Since January, the nominated candidate had been unanimously confirmed as Gerald Zackios, the ambassador of the Marshall Islands to the United States.

Micronesian Leaders (Photo:East-West Center / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Even before the election, the Micronesian nations had warned in advance that they would be willing to withdraw from the Forum if the tacit understanding was not observed in the election of the Secretary General this time. The reason for this is that Micronesia, with its small population in the Forum, has been neglected by Polynesia and Melanesia. Micronesia, he said, has been treated as if it were a second-class citizen of the Pacific community.claimThe Forum has been doing so. In fact, the Secretary General of the Forum has until now1The fact that the Micronesians have been elected only once from among the Micronesian nations shows that unwritten rules have not been fully observed and that the opinions of the Micronesian nations have not been respected.

Other Forum members, including Australia and New Zealand, took a negative stance toward the Micronesian nominee, and there was a growing movement toward a new candidate from outside Micronesia. Tuvalu, the presidency at the time, which was in charge of the procedure for selecting the Secretary-General, extended the deadline for nominating candidates despite criticism from the Micronesian countries, and eventually nominated a candidate from Melanesia and Polynesia.4The two candidates are.becoming a candidateThe company was then In response to this,2020counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)9In May, the governments of Micronesia issued the "Mekreo Communiqué" stressing that the Micronesian nominee for Secretary-General should be respected by the entire Forum.Adoption and announcementThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

The election of the Secretary General was postponed several times and the selection process was changed from a consensus to an anonymous ballot system. As a result, former Cook Islands (Polynesia) Prime Minister Henry Puna was9-8(Abstain from voting)1(votes) to defeat Zackios as the new Secretary General.appointmentThe candidate Micronesia had supported was eliminated from the race. The unwritten rule that Micronesia had repeatedly complained about was not followed, and the candidate Micronesia had supported was not elected. Disappointed by this5The three countries announced their withdrawal from the Forum, as initially warned. Palau was the first to decide to withdraw immediately from the Forum, while the other4Statements that other countries will follow suit.announcementThe Forum is now in the process of establishing a new forum in Micronesia. The withdrawal of the Micronesian countries would not only increase interference from countries with a strong interest in the Forum, but would also destroy the unity of the Pacific region and impede efforts to address the problems currently faced by the Forum countries.possibilityThere is a

Henry Puna, the Forum's new Secretary General (photo:The Commonwealth / Flickr [CC BY-NC 2.0])

The Forum's long-standing emphasis on dialogue and consensus, which in Samoan refers to the essential nature oftaranua (currency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)and values of mutual respect. The Forum has declared that the appointment of a new Secretary General was also in accordance with those principles, but can we really say that it was the result of dialogue, consensus, and mutual respect based on the voice of Micronesia? The small size of Micronesia's population and economy, Melanesia's close relationship with Australia, a regional power, and Polynesia's close relationship with New ZealandrelationshipThe fact that Micronesia has a large number of coal mines in the world has made it difficult for Micronesia's claims to be reflected in the Forum for a long time. In particular, Australia, the most influential country in the Forum, which provides significant support to the Forum countries, has not shown interest in the climate change issues that Micronesia has been advocating, but has instead been pushing for the protection of the domestic coal industry.priorityThe company has been disrupting its footprint by doing so.

Relations with Other Countries

Although we have looked primarily at the Forum's internal affairs, the existence of the state, which is closely associated with the Forum, is also important in the overall management of the Forum.20Since the end of the century, Forum countries have held government summits with other countries after their annual meetings to discuss diverse areas such as free trade and movement of people. Behind these meetings are speculations on issues such as the security of the sphere of influence with other countries, issues surrounding fishing rights, and the promotion of trade favorable to their own countries. This section will focus on the United States, France, China, and India as countries closely related to the forum and analyze them.

The United States is far from many mainland islands, including Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.territoryand vast exclusive economic zones. It is also closely connected with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands through the Free Association Treaty. The United States, which has been actively supporting and conducting military exercises in these areas since after World War II, has a larger presence in Micronesia than in Australia and New Zealand.affectThe company is giving the Also,2020President Joe Biden, who took office in 2006, has pledged to reduce global carbon emissions, and Micronesia has been a partner in the Biden administration on issues related to climate change.expectationThe company has contributed to the

French Polynesia's exclusive economic zone is also large, and the French have been blocking the independence movement in New Caledonia.influenceis also significant. France has strengthened its relationship with Australia in recent years, and the two countries have upgraded their recognition of each other as important strategic partners.2017In 2006, an agreement on the sharing of classified information was alsoadoptionThe first time the conference was held, the French government was the first to hold a meeting of the South Pacific defense ministers. France is a member of the South Pacific Council of Defense Ministers (SPDMMand the Asian Security Council, and has been actively involved in strengthening ties with other major powers.

New Caledonia held referendums on independence in 2018 and 2020 (Photo:gérard / Flickr [CC BY-SA 2.0])

China's massiveadvance to the seaAs China's trade with Pacific countries and the amount of support from China have been increasing, partly due to the Chinese government's promotion of the One Belt, One Road initiative launched in 2013, Chinese companies and individuals have been doing business in Pacific countries in increasing numbers. As a result, China's presence in the Pacific region is further increasing, and other countries have beenoppositionThere is a move to do so. In a situation where tourism revenues have dropped due to the new coronavirus, funding from China is attractive to Pacific countries. Kiribati isdiplomatic recognition (of a country)to China from Taiwan (*3), Fiji welcomed China's One Belt, One Road initiative, and the Melanesian regional organization, theMelanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat (MSG Secretariat)is the establishment fundsupportreceived.

India, a geopolitical rival of China although far from the Pacific Ocean, has also provided significant financial support to the Forum.2019To strengthen its influence in the Forum and to gain support for its permanent seat on the UN Security Council by paying for the construction of a site for the Prime Minister's meeting in Tuvalu, which chaired the Forum in 2006, and by establishing consulates in Samoa and Tonga.TargetIt is believed that this has been the case. In addition, Australia and Japan, the United States, and India4The three countries are engaged in a Japan-U.S.-Australia-India strategic dialogue in the Asia-Pacific region.one's presence (as felt by others)is increasing.

In addition, Indonesia also has a Pacificinterestand interference from other countries in the West Papuan independence movement.checkWhile doing so, it is trying to increase its presence. It is also trying to gain support for China's expansion, its fishing rights, and its bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.awarenessJapan, which is also keeping a close watch on the Pacific region, and is working with the U.S. and Australia.cooperationThe Forum is increasing its involvement in the Forum countries as a

Thus, in addition to Australia and New Zealand, the Forum's regional powers, several other major powers have come to deepen their ties or influence with Pacific nations.

What is the future of the Forum?

So what should be done to get Micronesia to reconsider its intention to withdraw from the Forum? The first idea is for the new Secretary General, Mr. Puna, to step down. Slangel of Palau.sadistWhips.Jr.The President said that the South Pacific countries have been able to persuade Puna to hand over the new Secretary-General's position to Zackios.solutionHe told the audience that it is Thus, adherence to the unwritten rules of forum initiative is1hornscenarioThe first is.

Official photo from the forum (Photo: nznationalparty / Flickr [CC BY-NC-ND 2.0])

Also, the trump card for a solution may lie in Fiji. This country has taken over the chairmanship of the forum,2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)8The return of Micronesia will be a major agenda item at the next meeting scheduled for May.leadershipThis is because it is possible to do so. Moves toward reconciliation are also taking place at the inter-governmental prime ministerial level. After the Micronesian countries announced their withdrawal, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Malape said that he would review the structure of the forum on regional balance, and Samoa's then prime minister also said that he would review the current selection processsuggestionThe first time, the company was in a position to do so.

One problem the Forum currently has, besides its regional bias, is that there is insufficient political enthusiasm within member countries to implement the Forum's resolutions. Actual,2000The decision adopted by the Forum's Economic Ministerial Conference in the early 1990s and confirmed for implementation in the Pacific countries washalf the numberThe number of participants was less than one hundred. The Forum as a whole will need to discuss how to implement the decisions made at the Summit.

However, the interests of the Pacific nations are so intertwined with those of the major powers that it will be difficult for the Forum members to resolve the situation alone. This is because the Micronesian nations' withdrawal from the forum may have been caused in part by Australia and New Zealand in order to curb the influence of the United States.doubtThis is because the If the interests of these great powers are at issue,Pacific Community (SPC)（The SPC also includes regions that are not members of the Pacific Islands Forum, and the U.S., which has territory in Micronesia, has a strong presence in the SPC. However, as the influence of the SPC grows, smaller countries that have had a voice and played an important role in the Pacific Islands Forum are likely to be neglected within the framework of the SPC, and their interests are likely to be neglected.

If we focus on the "Talanoa" concept, which I mentioned earlier, it is important to have an opportunity to talk face-to-face to understand each other, rather than to reach a hasty conclusion.essentialThe Micronesian countries have never had a forum. The Micronesian nations have been the forum1It is true that we have enjoyed the benefits of being part of two large mechanisms, but at the same timefeeling of alienationhave been embraced. What solutions will Melanesia and Polynesia come up with in light of the current situation in which Micronesia has been neglected to date and the serious crisis in the Forum? We will pay close attention to future developments.

note 11962counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)1month1The country gained independence as the Independent State of Western Samoa on1997The name of the country was changed to "Independent State of Samoa" in 2006.

note (supplementary information) symbol2Melanesia's mainrepresentative exampleFiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea are examples of Polynesia, while Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, and Tuvalu are examples of Micronesia.

note (supplementary information) symbol32021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)5As of March, the Pacific nations that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan are the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and Tuvalu.4counter for countriesThe following is a list of the most common problems with the

note (supplementary information) symbol4Pacific Community (SPC)Ha,It is the largest scientific and technological institution in the Pacific region,26It is operated by the countries and regions of the world. The focus is on addressing multi-sectoral issues such as climate change, gender equality, and youth employment.2021counter for years (following a number in the hito-futa-mi counting system)5As of June, the Pacific Community has4In addition to the two founding members Australia, France, New Zealand, and the United States,22The archipelagos of the United States are members. Each country or territory includes the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Northern Mariana Islands, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, French Polynesia, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Niue, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Wallis and Futuna, Nauru, Solomon Islands Vanuatu, Samoa, American Samoa, Vanuatu, and Samoa.

Writer: Koki Morita

Graphics: Koki Morita, Mayuko Hanafusa

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