Japan; a friend in the Far East

Since 1967, the Maldives has had a friend from the Far East, the Land of the Rising Sun. A nation of people whose humility, culture, determination, and hard-work are globally held in high regard, Japan paves the way in technology and the humanities. For the last 54 years, it has proven time and time again their unfaltering determination to make the world a better place through cooperation.

History

To understand how much Japan has assisted The Maldives, it is important to understand the categories of assistance it has provided to the Maldives. Japan has always been the quiet, dependable friend to the Maldives, be it in the areas of technology or educational support, health, military or trade ties. According to the website of the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives, it has provided cultural grants to the tine of USD2 million between 1979 and 2017, grants of USD288 million, loans of USD24 million, and technical cooperation to the value of USD69 million [all figures up to 2018].

Japan has provided grants to the Maldives that outshines a lot of other countries with whom the Maldives inculcates bilateral ties with. It was also the country that build the sea wall around Malé City, after tidal waves wreaked havoc on the capital. Japan was also one of the first countries to respond to the Maldives' call for help following the 2004 tsunami. On 27 December 2004, the Government of Japan announced the decision to extend emergency assistance in kind, equivalent to approximately Yen9.7 million, which included tents, blankets, electric generators, plastic jerry cans and portable water tanks, to the Maldives, just three days after the catastrophe.

However, it was in 2007, 40 years after the officiation of diplomatic relations between the two nations, that the Maldivian government established an embassy in Tokyo. Japan opened its embassy in Malé in 2016, prior to which its embassy in Sri Lanka covered both countries. 

Following are some of the notable components of the strong ties between the two countries in recent years.

Trade

Although trade is not a main component of the ties between the two countries, The Maldives earned roughly USD3 million from exports to Japan, and spent USD23 million in imports from Japan. The main exports to Japan has been tuna and other produce, while imports include cars, ship engines and other technological equipment.

Technology and education

Championing their longstanding support for capacity-building, the Japanese government is providing six scholarships for higher education for Maldivian students. According to the embassy website, the Project for Human Resource Development has a budget of nearly USD900,000 in scholarship funds, a repeat of the efforts from the previous year, where it had supported 24 students in their higher education. 

For 2022, Japan will be funding, through the Asian Development Bank, USD2.05 million as technical assistance through its Fund for Poverty reduction. The funds are expected to be used to held reduce the detrimental impact of viral disease, including COVID-19, through building mitigation opportunities. 

Japan has also assisted the Maldives in transforming the highly unsustainable waste management practices at Thilafushi. In conjunction with the ADB and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Japanese Fund for Joint Credit Mechanism extended its assistance to develop better waste management facilities, including the conversation of waste into green energy sources through incineration. 

Military

To tackle the issue of narcotics and maritime crime, Japan has provided a USD3.7 million grant for a project implemented by UNODC-GMCP [Global Maritime Crime Program) to establish a Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC). Under the project, the MRCC's premises will be expanded, as well as officers trained under a capacity building program. 

The Japanese government has also extended its hand in helping the anti-terrorism efforts of the Maldives National Defence Force, by donating various equipment used in safety and security of airline travel. 

Health

In addition to the technical assistance of USD2 million mentioned earlier, Japan has pledged 19 ambulances, a fire engine, USD3 million to procure sea ambulances, and more. On the COVID-19 pandemic management front, Japan has not only provided aid in the form of donated vaccines, but also assistance in both the development and implementation of cold-chain storage facilities and USD1 million worth of equipment to further enhance the longevity of the vaccine supplies. It has also donated surgical masks at a time of dire need for frontline workers, which had no doubt assisted the Maldivian response to the pandemic. 

Going beyond, in collaboration with UNDP, the Japanese government has kickstarted a project aimed at improving food security in the Maldives as well. Dubbed the ‘Project for Developing Sustainable Agriculture Economy,’ the Japanese government has approved over USD2 million as bilateral aid, with the objective of developing a soil and flora research laboratory, as well as cold-storage capabilities to aid the transport and trade of agricultural produce. The Japanese Ambassador for the Maldives Keiko Yanai has said that the expectation is that this program will enhance the agricultural sector of the Maldives and lessen the dependency on imports for food security in times of crisis. 

A friend in times of need, is a friend indeed

Over 54 years of diplomacy has proven that regardless of the shifting winds of geopolitics, the Japanese people have been stalwart in their friendship. The Maldivian people dearly cherish the connection that is shared, with a friend who does not beat their drums every time they help. Regardless of whichever party is in power, such diplomatic ties count for more than the loan-heavy, multiple-strings opportunities that the country has seen of late.