Page 25 - IB April 2018

International Relations

anxiety.”
“We need to better pool our energies
and resources to maintain our relative
influence,” Peters said.
Meanwhile, King Tupou VI of Tonga was
on a state visit to China, where President
Xi Jinping vowed to “continue to provide
Winston Tonga with economic and technological
assistance.”
Beijing would never attach any political
conditions to such assistance, Xi said.
sees Red want. Money – not lectures in democracy
And that’s just what the Pacific leaders
and transparency.
Fiji’s Frank Bainimarama took the same
attitude after overthrowing a legitimately
NZ claws back elected government in 2006.
China may be wrong when it comes to
democracy and transparency because it
fails to sanction rogue states. But it knows
into region and detest being spoken down to by their
that regional leaders want absolute power
donors.
Recently, Australia’s International De-
velopment Minister, Concetta Fierravanti-
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters. Photo: File
Wells, accused Beijing of funding “useless
buildings” in the Pacific and roads that did
not go anywhere.
The Pacific over- ture that you do build is actually produc-
“We want to ensure that the infrastruc-
all has also be- tive and is actually going to give some
economic benefit or some sort of health
come an increas- Her remarks riled Samoa’s Prime Min-
By Netani Rika benefit,” she said.
AFTER years of neglect, New Zealand has ingly contested ister Tuilaepa Sailele who reacted angrily,
made a desperate attempt to return to a labelling her remarks as insulting.
position of dominance in the region. strategic space, His reaction was typical of Pacific lead-
Seen as disrespectful of Pacific ideas and ers who feel they are treated like children
condescending towards regional leaders, or – worse still – beggars by New Zealand
New Zealand and Australian administra- no longer neglect- and Australia who have signalled that
tors have gradually lost their influence in they will cut back their aid to the region.
the islands. ed by Great Power China extended about US$209 million
Once the recognised leaders of the of aid annually to nine Pacific countries
region and influential in infrastructure ambition — Fiji, Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea,
development, education, defence and Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanu-
policy, they are now most definitely out atu and the Federated States of Micronesia
in the cold. — in 2006-2016.
Replaced by China, India and facing a - Winston Peters, NZ Canberra gives about US$870 million a
new threat from the influence of Indo- year, or 60 per cent of all global aid sent
nesia, Australia and New Zealand have Deputy Prime Minister to the Pacific. New Zealand gives US$235
decided to mend bridges. million and the United States US$221
But it’s possible that in the process they million.
will do more harm than good. Despite decades of involvement in the
Last month New Zealand’s Deputy The reference appeared to be aimed Pacific, Australia and New Zealand have
Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign at China’s growing influence among the not learned a simple lesson in regional
Affairs, Winston Peters, announced plans region’s island nations. diplomacy.
to work with its Pacific partners to meet “The Pacific overall has also become an Aid and partnerships in development
strategic and development challenges fac- increasingly contested strategic space, no is much more than what you give or say.
ing the region. longer neglected by Great Power ambi- In fact the money is always secondary.
Speaking at the Lowy Institute, Peters tion,” he said. Pacific leaders care more about what you
raised concerns about “strategic anxiety” “So Pacific Island leaders have more op- say and how you say it.
in the Pacific. tions. This is creating a degree of strategic r netrika66@gmail.com

Islands Business, April 2018 25