By Rob Harris
Funafuti, Tuvalu: Pacific leaders have left Australia isolated over the future of coal in the region after a marathon summit meeting on Thursday night, as fears grow that China will seek to exploit diplomatic differences in the region over climate change.
Representatives from Beijing will address the Pacific Island Forum in Tuvalu on Friday after a tense and lengthy leaders' retreat where Prime Minister Scott Morrison attempted to persuade his counterparts against a joint declaration of a climate emergency.
Global heavyweights will turn the international focus on the 18-nation meeting when US Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt speaks with leaders, followed by China's special envoy to the Pacific Islands, Wang Xuefeng.
Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau, Cook Islands Prime Minister Henry Puna, Tonga's Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva, Scott Morrison and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Credit: AAP
While bureaucrats were last night putting the finishing touches on the wording of the final communique, it's understood that the negotiated statement incorporated key concerns from Pacific countries while Australia retained its right to maintain its own economic interests.
Mr Morrison went into the meeting warning against any condemnation of coal and that calls for new mines to be banned would be a "red-line issue" in the final statement.
Pacific nations had fiercely pushed back all week against Australia for what they said was a lack of action from the country on climate change and a reliance on coal-fired power in its economy.
Leaders went into a 12-hour long retreat to discuss the final wording of the Funafuti Declaration, which some nations demanded should include limiting temperature increases to 1.5 degrees and more international investment in the United Nations Green Climate Fund.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi, one of the region's most influential leaders, said on Thursday that the island nations would not line up with Australia and the United States against China, declaring "their enemies are not our enemies".
Both Mr Morrison and the Trump administration have re-engaged with the region as China's influence grows through billions of dollars worth of regional investment.
Mr Bernhardt said before heading to Tuvalu that the US had supported Pacific Island nations "in their efforts to protect their political and economic sovereignty".
But Mr Malielegaoi said if countries "against China" objected to Beijing's support for the region "they should come in and provide the assistance that China is providing".
New Zealand's PM Jacinda Ardern meets with Australia's PM Scott Morrison. Credit: AAP
He told TVNZ the bigger geopolitical issues "don't have an importance to us small island countries".
"That is why I have often mentioned this — our friends and their friends are our friends. But their enemies are not our enemies," he said.
Pacific leaders, particular those from low-lying nations, have called on Australia to lift its game on climate change action as they seek strong global action on the issue.
Mr Morrison gave a detailed briefing to fellow Pacific leaders on Thursday morning, telling them Australia's economy was transitioning to renewable energy while coal dependency was falling.
Australia has also pushed back on attempts from smaller island states to include a strong statement urging the world to speed up its transition away from coal towards renewable energy.
Some nations had earlier softened on their demands on other forum partners this morning for the sake of a unified statement, with Australia also succeeding in its push to not have the term "climate change crisis" in the communique.
It's understood member nations were haggling over whether to "reflect on" rather than "endorse" the UN Secretary-General's call for no new coal and an end to fossil fuel subsidies.
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters moved to take the heat out of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's challenge to Australia on climate change, saying Pacific nations seeking Chinese investment should remember it comes on the back of "coal-fired everything".
Ms Ardern said on Wednesday every nation needed to "do its bit" in the fight against climate change, and "Australia has to answer to the Pacific" for its own role.
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama hit back at attacks on Ms Arden's comments, particularly from Sydney shock jock Alan Jones, saying she was "on the side of the Pacific".
"When combating climate change, it's good to have an ally like New Zealand in your corner," he tweeted.