- 17 Oct 2014 22:04
#14477117
I had intended to post this a while ago, but I just realised that I had forgotten to do it. So here you go:
And:
I'll update this thread when the next phase starts. It is actually an important region that people haven't been paying sufficient attention to.
Nikkei Asian Review, 'Japan moves to counter China, Russia influence in Caribbean', Oki Nagai, 29 Jul 2014 wrote:Shinzo Abe and Kamla Persad-Bissessar, prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago, share a moment at the July 27 banquet for the Japanese prime minister. © KyodoPORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago -- Japan's prime minister met here Monday with leaders and top officials representing 14 Caribbean nations, in a bid to shore up ties in a region where Russia and China have recently made robust overtures of their own.
Attending a summit of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom, Shinzo Abe pledged continued economic assistance and sought support for Japan's bid for a nonpermanent seat in the United Nations Security Council election next year.
As an ally of the U.S., Japan also aims to counter recent moves by China and Russia to strengthen their influence in what is effectively "America's backyard."
In mid-July, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were in Brazil to attend a summit of the BRICS group of top emerging nations. In conjunction with the visit, the leaders toured nations elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Xi made stops in Argentina and Venezuela as well as Cuba, a Caribbean nation not part of Caricom, and announced economic assistance packages. He visited Trinidad and Tobago, among other countries, last year.
A Chinese company received an order from the Nicaraguan government to build a canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. The deal is seen as a challenge to the U.S., which long controlled the Panama Canal.
After a stop in Cuba, Putin visited Nicaragua and Argentina. In Cuba, the Russian president said Moscow would forgive old, Soviet-era debt and pledged cooperation in the development of offshore oil fields and port infrastructure. Many Kremlin watchers see Russia moving to develop fresh diplomatic ties amid a souring relationship with the U.S. caused by the problems in Ukraine.
The last Japanese leader to visit Central or South America was former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who made the trip a decade ago. Abe's visit to the Caribbean is the first for a Japanese prime minister.
And:
Nikkei Asian Review, 'Japan to set up new economic aid programs for Caribbean Community', 29 Jul 2014 wrote:PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago (Kyodo) -- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday pledged to launch new economic aid programs for the 14 member states of the Caribbean Community to continue support for the countries even after Japan's official development assistance ends.
At the first summit meeting between Japan and the community dubbed CARICOM, Abe also mentioned the issue of a nation unilaterally trying to change the status quo by force, apparently with China in mind, and sought support for Tokyo's bid for a nonpermanent seat in the U.N. Security Council election next year.
"There is an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force and coercive pressure in some waters and air space of the world including Asia," Abe said at the summit held in Trinidad and Tobago.
The new economic program seems intended to counter China's recently growing influence over Caribbean countries. Beijing has diplomatic relations with nine of the 14 countries, with President Xi Jinping having paid a visit to Trinidad and Tobago last year.
Abe explained Japan's policy of proactively contributing to global peace, security and prosperity, and reiterated Tokyo's appeal to the international community to resolve territorial and maritime disputes peacefully and in accordance with international laws, and not by force or intimidation.
That is a message prompted by Beijing's growing assertiveness over territorial disputes in the East and South China seas.
Prior to the meeting, Abe and Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar agreed on Sunday to bolster cooperation in economic affairs, disaster mitigation and in other areas.
Abe also met with CARICOM chair Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne and discussed strengthening economic and energy cooperation.
CARICOM comprises Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
I'll update this thread when the next phase starts. It is actually an important region that people haven't been paying sufficient attention to.