KOROR, Palau – The Palau government moved to clarify the role of a woman who organized an event on China-Taiwan and Solomon Islands relations in Japan last year after it was discovered she had been misrepresenting herself as a government official.
Dr. Rieko Hayakawa reportedly used titles like “Palau National Security Advisor” and “Advisor, Palau National Security Office” while organizing the event and interacting with Japanese officials, according to a statement from the Palau Embassy in Japan.
The statement, signed by Ambassador Peter Adelbai, emphasized that Ms. Hayakawa “has never held any position in the Government of Palau, past or present, and has no relationship with the Government of Palau.” The document added that the titles used by Ms. Hayakawa are “unauthorized and false.”
The embassy requested that this information be shared with “all parties concerned,” including the Japanese government and those potentially misled by Ms. Hayakawa’s claims.
The incident has raised concerns about potential consequences for Palau’s relations with Japan, the United States, and the Solomon Islands, considering the sensitive nature of the event Ms. Hayakawa organized.