Page 8 - Islands Business June 2023

Whispers

Tkatchenko returns? FSM re-embraces China changes will see it have a “strength-
Former Papua New Guinea foreign The new Federated States of Micronesia ened footprint” in Fiji, the Federated
Minister and Moresby South MP, Justin President, Wesley Simina, has as ex- States of Micronesia and the Solomon
Tkatchenko, is now the minister for pected, taken a very different approach Islands, and that there will be a net
national events, reports PNG media. to China as his predecessor. Accepting a increase in national posts. The con-
Tkatchenko stepped aside as the min- ‘Letter of credence’ from China’s new troversy follows the UN’s decision to
ister for foreign affairs in May over a Ambassador to FSM, Wu Wei, recently, send its Resident Coordinator, Sanaka
controversy in which he called online President Simina said his country ad- Samarasinha on administrative leave
critics of his daughter “primitive ani- heres to the One-China policy and will following allegations of “unsatisfac-
mals”. His daughter had posted videos “further enhance pragmatic cooperation tory conduct” levelled against him.
of a trip to the UK, where she accompa- with China in a bid to deepen bilateral
nied her father on official travel for King relations.” Weeks before he left office, Tonga compensation questions
Charles’ ordination. Those videos, which Simina’s predecessor, David Panuelo said How much did it cost for Tonga
displayed a level of luxury beyond most the country was seeing “political warfare to withdraw from hosting the 2019
Papua New Guineans’ reach, created and grey zone activity within its borders”, Pacific Games? That’s what Tongan
anger at home. Tkatchenko’s responsi- with China aiming to ensure that at best, politicians want to know. In 2018,
bilities in his new post are unclear, but FSM was aligned with China in the event legal action against the country’s Gov-
his former foray into events as Minis- of a war between China and Taiwan, and ernment was launched by the Pacific
ter for APEC is best remembered for at worst, that FSM chooses to abstain Games Council and the Tonga Associa-
the purchase of a US$5.5 million fleet altogether. tion of Sport and National Olympic
of luxury cars. At the time, Tkatch- Committee demanding millions in
enko claimed the cars would “sell like Fiji backtracks compensation for breach of contract.
hotcakes” after the event, but many re- Fiji’s government has reversed a deci- That suit was reportedly settled last
main unsold to this day, and are quietly sion to allow the Taiwanese representa- October, but the amount involved has
rusting in storage or ‘missing in action’. tive office in the country to revert to its been deemed “confidential”. China
former name, which includes “Republic had undertaken to pay millions for
“No such thing as a free lunch”: of China,” (ROC). China objected to this construction of a sports complex and
Puna decision and plans to restore diplomatic upgrading work ahead of the Games.
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary Gen- privileges for Taiwanese representatives Parliamentarian ‘Aisake Eke asked
eral Henry Puna has given a series of at the office. It will continue to be known why the issue was not mentioned in
reflective speeches about the burdens as the Taipei Trade Office in Fiji. Much of the annual report of Prime Minister
and opportunities of leadership, as the office’s work is in agricultural exten- Siaosi Sovaleni and questioned what
he nears the end of his term. Speak- sion services. legislation was used to withhold the
ing in Auckland and in the Cook Islands amount of money. The compensation
parliament, he said the SG’s role was Samoa cautious on digital initiatives payment was made this year.
“not for the faint-hearted” as he has Samoa’s government denies it has
“learned the hard way”. Puna says endorsed a Samoa Stock Exchange, Samoa Falemaka returns
the role has pushed him to his limits, Digital Asset Exchange or Oceania Special The retirement of the Pacific Islands
physically and mentally, and spoke of Economic Zone, despite reports of their Forum’s Permanent Representative to
the “sacrifice” he and the Cook Islands launch in Hong Kong recently. In a state- Geneva, Ambassador Mere Falemaka
government had made in agreeing to ment, the government says while it has was shortlived. The Ambassador is
the Suva agreement, which will see received applications relating to the ini- back at her post in Europe, where
him serve just one term before being tiatives, it is still being considered. It says she is also the PIFS contact with the
replaced by a Micronesian SG. He has while new investments are welcomed, World Trade Organization and other
also reflected on the geopolitical tussle they must be safe, sound, and feasible. Geneva-based international organisa-
between the US and China affecting the tions. While the role was advertised
region, saying the “strategic neglect of UN scrutinised following the announcement that she
ten years ago” has been replaced with There’s dissent at Kadavu House, head- was moving on after many years, she
a “proliferation of regional strategies quarters of a number of United Nations has quietly returned to the position.
and consortiums, that serve to shape agencies in Suva, following a restruc-
and influence engagement with, and in ture at the UN Development Programme Whispers is compiled under the
our region – tantamount to, if I put it (UNDP) which has seen contracts of a supervision of the editors.
quite frankly, strategic manipulation.” number of key local staff terminated, and
Cook Islands will host the Pacific Islands some of those roles filled by international
Forum Leaders Meeting later this year, volunteers. UNDP says staff have been
Puna’s last as SG. consulted throughout the process, the

8 Islands Business, June 2023