日本與太平洋島國關係

Relations between Japan and Pacific Island Countries

日本於1969年在南太平洋地區首與諾魯（Nauru）建交以來，提供南太島國經濟、技術、人才培訓等開發援助，迄今雙邊關係持續進展；1987年提出「倉成主義」（倉成ドクトリン，Kuranari Doctrine）做為對南太外交方針，然近年卻面臨「良好治理」（Good Governance）等概念的激盪。日本日益關注中國在南太地區擴張勢力，美日關係以及美國重返亞洲亦影響日本經營南太關係。本文試圖瞭解日本與南太島國關係現況，日本對此雙邊關係之認知、理念與外交政策，並探討日本與美國、中國等區域外大國關係對南太政策之影響。

Since the establishment of formal relations with Nauru in 1969 as Tokyo’s first diplomatic advance in the South Pacific region, Japan has maintained stable contacts and interaction with Pacific Island countries at both governmental and civilian levels. Tokyo has so far provided development assistance in economics, technology, human resources training, etc. In 1987, the “Kuranari Doctrine” was put forth as the guiding principles for Japan’s Pacific Island countries policy, followed ten years later by the founding of Pacific Islands Leaders Meetings (PALM) as a multilateral mechanism for promoting relations between Japan and Pacific Island countries.
Contrary to the progress in institutional building, the rationale of Japan’s Pacific Island countries policy seems to be facing such conceptual challenges as “Pacific Way” and “good governance.” Besides, China’s expansion of influence in the region, complicated by souring Sino-Japanese relations in East Asia, inevitably factors into Japanese thinking about its Pacific Islands relations. The Japan-Pacific Islands relations are influenced by the existing US-Japan alliance and US’s recent “return to Asia” too.
This paper discusses development of Japan’s relations with, and thinking and foreign policy on the Pacific Island countries. It then analyzes Japan’s relations with extra-regional powers like China and the US as possible factors influencing Tokyo’s Pacific Islands policy.