‘Not Fiji’: Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka rejects proposed Chinese military base in Pacific

The Prime Minister of Fiji has given a definitive answer on whether he backs China setting up a military base in the Pacific.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said he would not back China erecting a military base in the Pacific, stating that they “do not need a base outside China to be able to launch what they have into any other area of the world”.

Speaking to reporters at National Press Club, Mr Rabuka said he would not support a Chinese military presence in the area, and would advocate this position “as long as I am Prime Minister”.

“If they want to come? Who would welcome them. Not Fiji,” he said.

His grilling over China’s presence in the Pacific follows growing concerns Beijing is trying to increase its influence in the area.

This also includes soft diplomacy tactics like foreign aid, made more prominent after the US Trump administration dissolved its USAID programs, as well as operating local infrastructure projects and setting up state-owned banking services in Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka spoke to reporters at National Press Club on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

He dudded his support of China operating a military base in the Pacific. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

However, Mr Rabuka added he doesn’t believe China would need to have a Pacific base.

“I do not believe that China would even need a base in the Pacific. They have proven that they do not need a base outside China to be able to launch what they have into any other area of the world,” he said.

“So they can go east of China and far, go as far east in America as they like, or go west and go far to the furthest point in Europe as they like. So there is really no need for them to set up any other bases in the Pacific.”

Asked on the issue of Taiwan, he also said that he believed China was “ready” to ramp up its goals to invade Taiwan, but said he believed the “rest of the world is also ready”.

Mr Rabuka said he doesn’t believe China would need to have a Pacific base. Picture: NewsWire / David Beach

He said that potential conflict would “draw the major powers together into a conflict area,” with China likely to be “better positioned” in the likelihood of prolonged conflict.

Despite his criticisms and hesitations on China’s military presence, he complimented Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “great leader”.

“He’s brought up the standard and quality of life in the rural areas,” he said.

“That way he started in the provinces with the economic development of villages and communities and worked his way up the Chinese Communist Party to be the President now.”

Mr Rabuka also backed a scheme in which the Australian Defence Force would recruit Fijian personnel.

His comments come as the ADF is struggling with a personnel shortfall of about 4300 members, and while it says there are “no plans to target recruits from Pacific Island nations, it is conducting a number of reviews to boost numbers.

“I would like to see it happen. Whether Australia does it or not depends on your own policies. We will not push it,” he said.

Mr Rabuka said a potential program could be attractive to rural residents who are “emptying out into the cities” but are unable to secure work.

“What we would like to do is to reduce those who are ending up in settlements in the cities and not working, giving way to crime and becoming first victims to the sale of drugs and AIDS and HIV from frequently used or commonly used needles,” he said.

Mr Rabuka and Anthony Albanese recently spoke when the Prime Minister visited Fiji in June, with their talks focusing on the issues related to regional security.

Mr Albanese said Fiji played a “critical role” in the Pacific, however acknowledged that while the bilateral relationship was about defence, security and the economy, it was “most importantly, about our people”.

Originally published as ‘Not Fiji’: Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka rejects proposed Chinese military base in Pacific