Which way after Tuvalu?
So, what’s next for Australia’s strategy in the region, after the Falepili agreement with Tuvalu? There are noises there could be another such agreement in the works with Fiji, while the chatter in other quarters is about a deal with Nauru. Either way, it seems we’re bound to see further developments in this area this year. But before that, the Tuvalu deal faces a test as Tuvluans go to the polls this month. Since it was signed late last year, the idea has picked up momentum that it was the Australians that went to Tuvalu with the idea, and not the other way around – as initially sold by Australia at the signing of the deal.
Which way with China?
Australia may be forging a climate/security strategy in the Pacific but those that are watching this space are also going into 2024 keen to see how it handles its relationship with China, given that some key trade developments are expected to unfold between the two countries this year. China is Australia’s largest trading partner, taking up almost 30% of two-way trade. Strained relationships under the previous two Australian administrations have stabilised with Labour at the helm. Most of China’s trade restrictions on several Australian imports (including coal, beef and barley) have been dropped. The remaining restrictions are expected to end in early 2024. So, what’s in store there? Australia’s strategic/military alliance in the Pacific with the United States is obviously going to play a key role as the Western allies scale up their geostrategic strategy in the Pacific. There’s obviously going to be a delicate balancing act involved.
Nuclear injustice
At the UN General Assembly late last year, Kiribati and Kazakhstan successfully introduced a resolution on nuclear justice for assistance to nuclear survivors and remediation of nuclear test sites. There was overwhelming support for the resolution, in a 161 – 4 – 6 vote. Nuclear weapons states like the United States, China, Israel, India and Pakistan all abstained. But France and the United Kingdom voted with Russia and North Korea as the only four nations in the world to oppose the resolution. Remember this, next time you hear French and UK diplomats pledge partnership with island states! France conducted 193 nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa. Britain conducted 12 atomic tests in Australia, then another nine tests in Kiribati. Both refuse to fully address the concerns of nuclear survivors.
Fukushima fallout
While on nuclear issues, the fallout from the Fukushima saga hasn’t quite settled, at the Pacific end, that is. Disappointment is still ringing loud and clear within much of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Fiji about the way Japan was handled by certain key personnel from PIFS. Word is, the matter was still being talked about at year-end events in December, even as the Secretariat went into holiday mode. Some disappointments are so crucially placed, they’re hard to forget – even after a few drinks!
An unholy roll of the dice
Fiji’s governing Coalition added to their rather patchy record in their first year in office in December with a few heads shaking over purported casino plans. First, two unknown (locally) businessmen hold a press conference out of the blue announcing a proposal for a $2billion casino project. Then, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announces the government has not approved a policy framework for casinos. But, guess what? He goes on to divulge that his Cabinet actually revisited a decision by FijiFirst in 2017 to award a casino licence to the Fiji National Provident Fund, but that a decision was left until later! In a rather unholy conclusion to the whole fiasco, the project backers announced they flew a group (including pastors) from the Methodist Church in Fiji to Macau to look at the impacts of casinos. Dear God, what next!
Not enough for COP28
Fiji’s entourage to the COP28 meeting obviously wasn’t enough for the job on occasion, or so it seems. A friend of a minister’s PA got a late-night call from Abu Dhabi, smack in the middle of the meeting, asking that they prepare talking points for the minister. Apparently, as the friend found out, there was a hidden cost to all the evenings spent drinking grog with the PA.
Crime and punishment
Fiji’s Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, joined the crime statistics this month, revealing his home had been broken into while everyone was away. All this as Tikoduadua marshalled his anti-crime troops, directing them to fix the public perception of Fijian police, which he said was “not good”. Fiji’s growing drug problem is also high on the agenda of things to fix. But it seems there are times when there’s no one to listen. As goes this story from some time back about a distraught Kiwi mother whose son, it is said, was drugged into unconsciousness and had to be airlifted out of Fiji, being eventually put through intensive therapy. Despite her efforts, complaints about the matter have failed to get through the system and seem to have fallen through the cracks. There are other stories as well about just how much attention the drug problem is getting. Here’s wishing the anti-drug agenda ends up in better shape than the good
Minister’s residence!
Tertiary education drama
There’s no shortage of drama in the higher education space in Fiji. Rumblings continue from last year at the University of the South Pacific, where among other things, staff are adamant about an 11% pay rise and the removal of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds
a review commissioned by the Fiji government to look into the three universities in Fiji. Questions are being raised about how the appointments to the review panel come from the same overseas university, and therefore, the independence of the review process. 2024 looks set to be an interesting year for the tertiary education space in Fiji.
Whispers is compiled under the supervision of the editorial team.
