Japan is softening its policy on Fiji and is considering inviting Fiji's Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, to its next meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders in 2012.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Australian that Tokyo was concerned the policy of using "pressure" on Fiji to return to democracy was failing and it was considering moving to a "dialogue based" policy.

Australia and New Zealand imposed strict sanctions on Fiji after December 2006.

These include travel restrictions that prevent Commodore Bainimarama from entering either country.

A ministry official said Japan had also barred Commodore Bainimarama from visiting, but it was considering relaxing the ban for the Pacific Island Leaders Meeting in 2012.

The official said they will see how the processes are working before the meeting.

He said Japan was considering changing tack on Fiji because there had been little progress under the current policy and Fiji had drifted into the arms of China.

He said the international community has been making efforts to isolate Fiji to persuade it to return to democracy and they haven't reached a final assessment but Japan feels that such an approach might not be working.



Story by: Vijay Narayan