China hits Australia as ‘condescending master’ of Pacific
China has seized on criticism last week of Scott Morrison by Pacific leaders, rubbishing concerns over its influence.
China has accused Australia of acting like a “condescending master’’ of Pacific Island nations as it seized on criticism last week of Scott Morrison by island leaders and hit back at concerns over its growing influence.
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang, said criticisms by Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama of the Australian Prime Minister as “insulting” and “condescending” were another example of Pacific Island leaders resenting Australia’s behaviour.
The Fijian leader’s comments were made amid rising tensions between some Pacific Island leaders and Australia over a proposed statement on climate change to be issued by the forum.
Mr Morrison has stared down New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and 16 other leaders at the Pacific Island Forum refusing to back a statement that would obligate Australia to end coalmining and go carbon-neutral by 2050.
Mr Morrison was left isolated, rejecting any working in the PIF declaration that would otherwise backed demands by small island nations for “an immediate global ban’’ on new coalmines and coal-fired power plants.
The forum host, Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, identified Australia as the outlier saying he was disappointed with the final communique.
Mr Geng said China’s approach in dealing with the Pacific Island countries was “in stark contrast” to Australia’s attitude.
He said China’s approach was one of “sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith” while Australia’s approach to the region was one of a “condescending master”.
Mr Geng said “some in Australia (had) been spreading the China threat fallacy among island countries.”
“They see China as a challenger to Australia’s influence in the region.”
But he said the remarks by the Fijian Prime Minister made it clear he believed that “China is not competing with Australia in the region.”
Mr Geng said Samoa’s Prime Minister had also said that other Pacific Island leaders did not share Australia’s concern about China’s rising influence in the region.
Mr Geng’s criticisms of Australia came after Fiji’s Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama accused Mr Morrison of being “very condescending and insulting” in an interview with The Guardian.
The Fijian leader said China had a very different approach to diplomacy in the region than Australia.
“They (the Chinese) don’t go down and tell the world that we’ve given this much money to the Pacific Islands,” he said.
Beijing has seized on the comments made at the forum to hit back at Australia over its criticism of China’s role in the region.
Mr Geng said China had “long been providing assistance to island countries with no political strings attached.”
“In the process, we fully respect the will of local governments and peoples who sincerely welcome Chinese assistance as it has strongly boosted their economic and social development.”
Mr Geng said China was “ready to continue practical co-operation with Pacific Island countries under the framework of South-South co-operation.”
“We also hope other countries, including Australia, will proceed from the needs of island countries and take more concrete actions to help them grow the economy and improve people’s lives with sincerity instead of the obsolete cold war mentality and zero sum game mindset,” he said.
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