But there have been many minor victories for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as he continues a tour of the islands in the region. It also offered an olive branch in Australia in terms of cooperation in the region.
Wang was in Fiji to co-organize a key meeting with the foreign ministers of the 10 island nations.
In this photo provided by the Fiji government, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama speaks at a press conference on Monday at a meeting of Pacific Island Foreign Ministers in Suva, Fiji. (Government of Fiji via AP) (AP)
At an unusual press conference, Wang and Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama spoke for about 30 minutes and then abruptly left the stage while reporters tried to ask questions. This left undisclosed many details of what happened at the meeting.
But it was clear that the nations had not supported China’s plan.
“As always, we put consensus first among our countries during any discussion on new regional agreements,” Bainimarama said.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press indicate that Wang hoped to get the 10 nations to endorse a pre-written agreement as part of a joint statement after the meeting.
But Wang could not reach the consensus he had sought.
On Saturday, Samoa Prime Minister Afioga Fiame told Naomi Mataafa that China “does not target third parties and does not seek exclusive rights” to work with Pacific countries.
“China is ready to improve communication with all countries concerned about the Pacific island countries, especially Australia and New Zealand, and give full strength to their respective forces to carry out more trilateral cooperation on the basis of respecting the wishes of the Pacific island countries, “he said. , according to a Chinese reading of the meeting.
“Australia will be a partner that does not come with ties,” he said. In this photo provided by the Fiji government, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a press conference at the meeting of Pacific Island Foreign Ministers in Suva, Fiji, Monday, 30 May 2022. Wang and a 20-person delegation meet in Fiji as part of an eight-country tour of the Pacific Islands amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the region. of the South Pacific. (Government of Fiji via A (AP)
David Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia, told other Pacific leaders that he would not approve the plan, warning them in a letter that it would unnecessarily increase geopolitical tensions and threaten regional stability.
Panuelo called it “the only proposed deal that most changes the game in the Pacific in any of our lives” and said it “threatens to usher in a new era of the Cold War, at best, and a world war.” at worst “.
During Monday’s press conference, Wang listed some areas where countries had been able to reach an agreement and said he would continue to work on others.
“Following the meeting, China will publish its own position paper on our own positions, proposals and proposals for cooperation with the Pacific Islands countries,” Wang said through an interpreter.
“And in the future, we will continue to have ongoing and in-depth debates and consultations to shape more consensus.”
In this photo courtesy of the Fiji government, Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere on the right makes a gesture to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the Suva State House. (Government of Fiji via AP) (AP)
While China may have fallen short in its plans for a major multilateral agreement, it has been signing smaller bilateral agreements with Pacific nations every day during Wang’s tour.
For example, on Friday, Wang visited Kiribati, where a key fishing vessel the size of California is at stake. The Kiribati government said the two nations had later signed 10 agreements ranging from cooperating on economic goals to building a specific bridge.
The Kiribati government did not immediately respond to a request from the PA to provide details of the agreements.
In his press conference, Wang said that “some have wondered why China has been so active in supporting the countries of the Pacific islands.”
He said China had long defended other developing nations both in the Pacific and around the world, something it had begun to do in the 1960s when it helped African nations build railways.
“My advice to these people is: don’t be too anxious and don’t be too nervous,” Wang said.
After the press conference, Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo answered some questions from reporters, saying there were “some concerns about specific issues” of some of the 10 nations on the proposed agreement.
“We never impose anything on other countries, let alone on our developing friends and small island countries,” Qian said.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the left and Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele hold joint press conference in Honiara, Solomon Islands on Thursday morning, May 26 2022. Wang and a delegation of 20 people have arrived in the Solomon Islands at the start of a tour of eight Pacific countries amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the region. (Photo AP) (AP)
He said China would try to publish the position paper mentioned by Wang in about a week. He said parts of the deal were simply an offer from China to provide assistance to nations.
A draft multilateral agreement proposal obtained by the PA shows that China wants to train Pacific police officers, unite in “traditional and non-traditional security” and expand cooperation between law enforcement.
China also wants to jointly develop a marine fisheries plan, which would include the lucrative catch of tuna in the Pacific, increase cooperation in the implementation of the region’s Internet networks, and establish Confucius cultural institutes and classrooms.
China also mentions the possibility of establishing a free trade zone with the Pacific nations.
During the pandemic, Fiji’s vital tourism industry closed overnight and GDP fell by more than 15 percent. As the world reopens, Fiji is trying to recover and many are happy to see China write the checks.
While there has been growing international concern about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the region, many Fijians see a benefit in foreign investment, wherever it comes from, as long as it elevates people.
Georgina Matilda said working for the Chinese infrastructure company China Railway meant she could put food on the table for her children.
Another Fijian, Miliane Rokolita, said the increase in China’s presence had benefited the people.
“They bring us bigger houses. They bring money to Fiji. They are good people,” Rokolita said.
South Pacific University student Nora Nabukete poses in front of a map of Fiji in Suva, Fiji, on Friday, May 27, 2022. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on tour to the Pacific Islands amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the region. (Photo by AP / Aileen Torres-Bennett) (AP)
China’s participation in the region is not entirely out of the blue. There has been a long history of Chinese immigration to Fiji, with many Fijian Chinese running corner shops and other businesses.
“There’s a good side and a bad side,” said Nora Nabukete, a student at the University of the South Pacific.
“We give more money to the economy, we inject ourselves and other things, but there is also a side where they bring a lot of new things that are new to Fiji’s culture.”
Nabukete worries about the more sordid side that has been associated with Chinese investment in Fiji: an alleged influx of gambling, gangs and drugs.
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He said aligning with China could mean that Fiji creates tension with the United States and other Western nations, so he hoped Fiji would not endorse Wang’s agreement.
“There is a lot more to lose in the future than what we are experiencing now if Fiji signs,” he said.