Japan courts Pacific island states at summit

NAGO, Japan, May 26 (Reuters) Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi courted leaders of Pacific island nations at a summit today with pledges of support for greater prosperity a month after China offered its own sweeping economic aid package.

The Pacific island states offer little economically to Japan, but their support as a bloc is sought in international forums such as the United Nations where Japan has been campaigning, with scant success, for a permanent seat on the Security Council.

The two-day summit on Japan's southern island of Okinawa brings together leaders from most of the 14 Pacific island nations that are members of the Pacific Island Forum for talks on issues including global warming, the regional economy, security, and prevention of diseases such as bird flu and HIV/AIDS.

''The support framework we will present at this summit aims at a stronger, more prosperous Pacific,'' said Koizumi, wearing a traditional Okinawan shirt, in his opening remarks.

Japan is set to make an offer of new aid that media reports say could be worth as much as 40 billion yen (360 million dollars) over the next three years.

''We applaud Japan for remaining ... a significant development and trade partner for the Pacific region, and look forward to your continuing support,'' said Sir Michael Somare, prime minister of Papua New Guinea and co-chairman of the summit.

During a similar gathering in Fiji in April, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao offered a sweeping package of economic aid to nations that support a one-China policy, measures including zero-tariff agreements and 3 billion yuan (375 million dollars) in loans.

''We hope to offer a forceful package of assistance as a manifestation of our friendship and commitment to the Pacific island nations,'' a Foreign Ministry official told reporters.

All the island nations support Japan's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, which China opposes, and Koizumi said at the first summit session that he was very grateful for their support, a Foreign Ministry official said.

''We will continue to work to reform the Security Council and look forward to your cooperation,'' Koizumi was quoted as saying.

REGIONAL RIVALRY China and Taiwan have long competed for influence in the South Pacific, with seven nations recognising Beijing and six Taipei.

A few, such as Kiribati, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, have switched back and forth, seeking to gain the best aid.

Sino-Japanese ties have chilled due to a range of issues including a territorial row and Koizumi's visits to a Tokyo shrine for war dead seen as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.

A Japanese ministry official denied that Japan and China were vying for clout in the region. ''We don't have any intention of getting involved in any competition, the official said.

''We welcome China as a responsible stakeholder but they have to grow and contribute to good governance, transparency and ownership of this region.'' Analysts, though, painted a different picture.

''There's no doubt that they don't want Chinese influence to get too strong in this region,'' said independent diplomatic commentator Tetsuya Ozeki.

For low-lying nations such as Tuvalu, which supports Taiwan, diplomatic rivalry takes a back seat to more pressing issues such as the rising seas that are slowly eating away their land.

''We have to respect their respective intentions, but I think that is something for the countries themselves to resolve,'' Tuvalu Prime Minister Maatia Toafa said of the Chinese and Japanese overtures.

''We just see them as friends,'' he told Reuters.

Around 30 people gathered near the summit venue at a hotel in Nago to protest over the controversial decision to relocate a U.S. airbase to their city, shouting ''Koizumi, go home!'' The Pacific Islands Forum, established in 1971, consists of 14 Pacific nations, including Australia and New Zealand. Japan has sponsored regional gatherings every three years since 1997.

REUTERS SHR PC1731