Tokyo, 1 January, /AJMEDIA/
Japan will establish an embassy in Kiribati and a consular office in the French territory of New Caledonia on Jan 1, the Foreign Ministry said, in an effort to deepen ties with island nations in the Pacific.
The decision comes as China has been trying to gain military and economic clout in the Pacific area, as shown by its signing of a security pact with the Solomon Islands in April.
As a result, the total number of Japanese embassies, consulates and permanent mission offices as well as that of other offices, such as consular offices, will reach 231 and 24, respectively, according to the ministry.
Kiribati and the Solomon Islands both switched diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing in 2019, signaling a tilt toward Chinese influence.
The United States and its allies including Japan and Australia are vigilant against China’s political proximity to Pacific island states, while aiming to beef up ties with them, and U.S. President Joe Biden has decided to open or reopen embassies in Kiribati, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.
