Fiji look back to Australia over China but Vanuatu still not sure
China’s push into the Pacific has taken a hit with Fiji reconsidering its options, while Vanuatu fears Aussie troops could storm their beaches.
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China’s push into the Pacific has taken a hit, with Fiji reconsidering security ties with Beijing which would have allowed police and troops to be based there.
But the move came as Australia’s security co-operation agreement with nearby Vanuatu stalled amid social media fuelled fears it would allow Aussie troops to storm their beaches.
The Pacific has rapidly emerged as a battleground for influence, with Australia and the US attempting to court island nations in the face of an overt military push into the region by China, which has been offering cash grants, weapons, aid and troops.
In Fiji, the previous regime signed a formal “policing” agreement with Beijing that allowed China to station police officers there with the pact to evolve to also allow PLA troops.
But new Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has unexpectedly announced he was reviewing that contentious deal signed by his predecessor Frank Bainimarama.
At one point during a press conference with New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins, Mr Rabuka appeared to go further and suggested a “discontinuation” of the pact.
“If our systems and our values differ, what co-operation can we get from them?” Mr Rabuka asked, referring to China.
“We need to look at that again before we decide whether we go back to it, or if we continue the way that we have in the past by co-operating with those who have similar democratic values and systems.”
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles arrived in Vanuatu this week to secure a security agreement with the nation’s government. Vanuatu had agreed to sign a treaty covering disaster relief, defence, policing and cyber security with Australia in December but officials declared it “still being examined”.
Some local MPs are in favour of a pact with China instead, given how much money they offer for local infrastructure.
Vanuatu Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau said his government had to remove the stigma and have parliament ratify it.
“We must remove the stigma that the agreement is one-sided and does not reflect Vanuatu’s sovereignty,” Mr Kalsakau said.
“Thinking that some troops from Australia will enter the country without visas and access our sovereign data will not happen unless we agree and give our informed consent,” he added, referring to social media misinformation.
Mr Marles said it was a good visit.
“Look, it’s going to be a really important agreement between our two countries. We’re very happy with the progress that is being made here in Vanuatu in relation to it and the progress has also been made in Australia.”
Last year Solomon Islands raised concern when it signed its own security pact with China, while Papua New Guinea last month signed a pact with the US causing local political ructions.
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Originally published as Fiji look back to Australia over China but Vanuatu still not sure
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