Page 31 - Islands Business October 2022

Opinion Opinion

be highly contested sphere of interest, in a wider geopoliti- commentators have stated that this ‘initiative rides roughshod
cal setting with external powers seeking to assert their own over established regional processes’. The Partners have stated
interests.” That in itself is an understatement – a misinter- that they have a ‘strategic’ way of consulting with PIF and
pretation. other regional bodies to ensure utility. It remains to be seen,
The paragraph continues: “In the current strategic context, for example, how ANZ will be seated in any consultation with
Leaders recognised the importance of remaining unified as a PIF of which they are members, and which hats they would be
Forum family to address common challenges and to capi- wearing.
talise on key opportunities.” What is unsaid is the status of In trying to be bland to arrive at a consensus in its report-
the existing disunity that has split the Forum family and the ing, PIFS omits essential details. And these are what mat-
prospect of Kiribati walking away from the group permanent- ter. In recent situations, these are details that speak of the
ly. What is also unsaid is what the Forum aims to do to get absence of PIF’s unity and solidarity. A specific case discussed
Kiribati and others into the fold to repair the disunity. above is where Australia and NZ have breached PIF’s trust
There is more. The same paragraph 9 still has to come and have gone on to establish another regional grouping that
to its punchline. It continues: “Furthermore, Leaders also ‘rides roughshod over established regional processes.’ In the
recognised the importance of regional unity and solidarity in final analysis, it is this kind of power play that will continue
dealing with intensifying geostrategic interest, particularly to the unsolicited usurpation of PICs’ agency and their treatment
ensure the achievement of shared and common objectives.” as essentially pawns in the geostrategic games that developed
What the Leaders did not discuss is that regional unity countries love to play.
and solidarity are already in tatters due to Australia and NZ’s
geostrategic activities. Firstly, Australia followed up its sign- editor@islandsbusiness.com
ing onto the Indo-Pacific pact, as a member of the QUAD, by
signing onto the AUKUS with the US and the UK. AUKUS has a The author is a former Fijian Ambassador and Foreign
nuclear component. The pact thus trashes PIF’s own Treaty of Minister and runs his own consultancy company in Suva, Fiji.
Rarotonga of 1985.
Furthermore, what remains unsaid is that both Australia The opinions expressed in this article are those of the
and NZ have undermined the existing regional architecture by author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this
signing onto the Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP). Regional publication.

fijitraveller.com

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