PALIKIR, Pohnpei—On June 30 , 2021, His Excellency David W. Panuelo—President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)—virtually engaged in a formal bilateral meeting with the Honorable Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan. The purpose of the FSM-Japan bilateral meeting was to discuss a series of items of mutual interest and import prior to the convening of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting-9 (PALM-9) which will be held on July 2nd, 2021. The triannual PALM summits serve as a means for Japan to liaise with Pacific Island Countries, and are thematically similar to the Pacific Island Conference of Leaders (where Pacific countries engage with the United States of America).
President Panuelo reaffirmed the Kizuna, or special bond, between the FSM and Japan, noting that the FSM appreciates Japan’s assistance in areas ranging from the development of Pohnpei’s commercial port to scholarship opportunities, grant aid, technical assistance, and Volunteers serving in the Japan International Cooperation Association (JICA) program. The President emphasized that Climate Change remains an existential threat to the FSM and the Pacific at large, and reaffirmed the FSM’s commitment to a Free & Open Indo-Pacific, as part of the broader Indo-Pacific Strategy, noting that “Japan is behind the United States as one of our most important and closest allies.”
Prime Minister Suga likewise reaffirmed the Kizuna between the FSM and Japan, to the degree where—without prompting—the Prime Minister acknowledged President Panuelo’s April 26 , 2021 letter regarding the Nation’s concerns over the proposed dumping of 1.2 million tons of diluted, but nonetheless contaminated, water into the Pacific Ocean. Prime Minister Suga noted that he takes President Panuelo’s concerns very seriously, and that he appreciates that the FSM will speak on behalf of Pacific Island countries on this issue at the PALM-9 proper. The Prime Minister noted that Japan has demonstrated financial support to the Fisheries & Maritime Institute (FMI) in the State of Yap, and that Japan takes the health of the World’s oceans seriously.
Prime Minister Suga reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to work together with the FSM and other partners to ensure a Free & Open Indo-Pacific, and requested the FSM’s continued support on issues such as the repatriation of human remains originating from World War II, and the FSM’s support as Japan seeks to repatriate its citizens abducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (colloquially referred to as North Korea).
President Panuelo described that the FSM “stands fully with Japan” on the issues of repatriating abducted Japanese citizens from North Korea, and that the Nation is presently working to address land ownership issues in the State of Chuuk, which are at the heart of the delay in the repatriation of fallen Japanese soldiers from World War II.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with President Panuelo reaffirming the FSM’s support for Japan’s candidature to the United Nations Security Council Non-Permanent Seat in 2022; Japan’s candidature for the International Law Commission; Japan’s candidature to the World Heritage Committee in October 2021; Japan’s candidature to the UNESCO Executive Board in November 2021; and the FSM’s continued endorsement for Japan to join the United Nations Security Council as a Permanent Member.
“Prime Minister,” President Panuelo said, “We share a Kizuna with Japan because the People and Government of Japan are very dear, and very close, friends and allies of the People and Government of the FSM. I look forward to strengthening our Kizuna at the PALM-9 and beyond. I extend an open invitation to you during your tenure as Prime Minister of Japan to visit our beautiful islands in Micronesia.”
