“ Very interesting reading . One can see how Pacific island nations are like pawns on a chessboard being shuffled around by the rich and powerful players . We all know that for every handout we receive we must give back something in return . The advanced countries are vying with each other for influence in the Pacific , now that China is approving master card to every Pacific island Government that wants one, plus its low interest and long term easy repayment . Why be surprised if some of these small nation are reluctant to jump ship . Yes , Japan would appreciate support from the nations of the Pacific on world affairs especially on issues in relation to her being threaten by North Korea . Japan has in the past , given aid to the Pacific nations lets not forget that , and so have other rich countries , but never in the way China is doing it . But why all this benevolent feeling for the small insignificant nation of the Pacific ? What do these island nations have that big brother wants? Japan whaling in the Pacific ocean ? China military bases in the Pacific ? WHAT ? We the countries of the Pacific should know that we cannot keep up the " ENEMY TO NONE " rubbish because its not true . one has to choose friends from foes so who is it going to be ? We talk about the island nations of the Pacific being guardians of the sea , which sea ? The rich and powerful comes and go , do as they please ships dump pollutant overboard , illegal over fishing by modern fishing trawlers have been going on for years and nothing the supposedly guardian of the sea could do about it . What could the weak do when they rely on the strong for economic support ? At the end of the day we the isl,and nations will be the loser . What the rich give us in aid is pittance compared to what they gain from us . Lets not bury our head in the sand and pretend that all is well in paradise . Workshop to train personal from Pacific island countries on how to stop ship to ship transfer of illicit cargo thereby giving island nations a false sense of having control of the sea what a load of hogwash , we don't have the means nor the funds to patrol the water ways around each island nations Exclusive Economic Zone , so it all comes back to " Beggars don't choose " ”