Asia News Network The Yomiuri Shimbun February 25, 2026
TOKYO – Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi expressed Japan’s intention to strengthen ties with 14 Pacific Island nations through such means as personnel exchanges and building a relationship based on multilayered cooperation, at the third Japan Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue which concluded on Tuesday. This year’s meeting was also attended by seven ASEAN members, including the Philippines and Indonesia, as observers. China seeks to expand its influence over the island nations by providing vast sums in so-called aid.