10.05.2022, Moscow.
On May 8, Japan’s foreign minister concluded his trip to the island countries of Fiji and Palau.
At the end of his tour, Yoshimasa Hayashi said that China’s pact with the Solomon Islands is also of concern to those countries.
What does this mean? Of course, neither Fiji nor Palau can be a serious backstop for the anti-China coalition from the Quad. Nor will they provide any symbolic help.
It is difficult to imagine that Japan could use the territories of these countries to establish its naval bases, just as it has claimed that China could do in the Solomon Islands.
First, this would require time and resources. And Japan needs them to strengthen territories much closer to the likely enemy.
Second, it is unlikely that the USA would allow Japan to do this.
Despite the obvious US moves to free Japan from its dependency in exchange for an anti-Chinese stance, it is unlikely that the entire US establishment will allow Japan to do anything on Fiji.
This is clearly a political move by Tokyo.
With this tour of its foreign minister, Japan is telling everyone in Southeast Asia that it represents “big brother” in Asia. And it is the one entrusted with the task of deploying the concept of an “Open Indo-Pacific” against China.
In this way, Japan hopes to smooth disagreements with another US ally, South Korea, as well as to strengthen its influence over other pro-US forces in the region.
Translated from https://t.me/shotday/270
