Page 26 - IB April 2018

International Relations

Fiji looks positions in 1987 when Sitiveni Rabuka Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, showed
Six months later Bainimarama’s Finance
Australia and New Zealand took similar
overthrew the government of Dr Timoci
how Fiji had chosen a path away from its
North Bavadra. traditional Western allies.
In reply, Xi said Fiji was a cordial friend
“Fiji has friends in China, it has friends
in Korea, it has friends in […] other Asian
and an important partner.
“China supports the people of Fiji in countries. We’re no longer relying on Aus-
choosing their own development path and
tralia and New Zealand. And in any event,
China blind to improving livelihoods.” the United States was not doing much for
In fact, China has shown that trade
Fiji anyway.”
illegal activity with the Pacific and access to its natural favour.
It did not take long for Fiji to return the
resources – minerals, fish and timber – are
its first consideration. In March 2008, China cracked down
China exports around US$309 million on a dissident movement in Tibet amidst
mainly in textiles, light industrial prod- widespread international condemnation.
By Netani Rika ucts, trucks and mechanical and electrical Fiji was one of the few nations to ex-
products to Fiji each year while importing press support for China’s actions in dealing
LAST month former New Zealand Prime raw sugar, saw log and synthetics worth with riots in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa.
Minister Helen Clark praised Fiji for what around US$41 million. When human rights activists in Fiji
she described as the tremendous progress It is one of the largest providers of infra- protested against the heavy-handed tactics
made since Frank Bainimarama’s Decem- structure development loans for highways they were arrested by police outside the
ber 2006 coup. and hydro-electricity projects although Chinese Embassy in Suva.
It was a dramatic turnaround for the the value of these is difficult to establish. Later that year Bainimarama said rela-
woman who imposed sanctions against Fiji’s exports in 2010 to China were tions between Fiji and China were close
Fiji and was banned from the country by worth US$6.3 million but these have been and cordial.
the regime which overthrew the govern- pushed up by the extraction of bauxite on Fiji will not forget that when other coun-
ment of Laisenia Qarase. the second largest island, Vanua Levu. tries were quick to condemn us following
Prior to Bainimarama’s putsch Clark There has also been an increase of the events of 1987, 2000 and 2006, China
attempted to broker peace talks between tourists from around 4087 in 2009 to and other friends in Asia demonstrated
the military commander who was strug- 40,174 with flights to Hong Kong and a more understanding and sensitive ap-
gling to keep his job and a prime minister Singapore supplemented by charted flights proach to events in Fiji,” he said.
threatened by the security forces. to Shanghai. “The government of the People’s Repub-
The talks in Wellington failed, Baini- So rapid has China’s growth been in Fiji lic of China expressed confidence in our
marama ousted Qarase, Clark and her that 41 per cent of total investment proj- ability to resolve our problems in our way,
Australian counterpart drove Fiji out of ects registered in the country were Chinese without undue pressure of interference.”
the Commonwealth. And Bainimarama projects. These include market gardens, Two years later when human rights
turned north. corner shops, automotive supplies, hotels abuses in Fiji were highlighted at the
China and India became Fiji’s newest and high-rise buildings. United Nations Human Rights Council’s
friends, replacing Australia and New China has effectively stepped into Fiji Universal Periodic Review, China com-
Zealand. and the Pacific in ways Australia and mended Bainimarama’s administration,
State visits by China’s Xi Jin Ping and New Zealand cannot fathom. The ANZAC “for the efforts it has made in the promo-
India’s Narendra Modi in 2014 saw the ce- alliance, for years the prefects in the Pa- tion and protection of human rights.”
menting of those ties and the diminishing cific school yard, were quick to chastise For Bainimarama, China’s support for
influence of Australia and New Zealand actions which were seen as illegal or Fiji was instrumental in legitimising his
on the Pacific. anti-democratic. rule post 2006. Chinese-funded infrastruc-
Part of those visits was the signing of And they withheld development and ture projects were key to voter support in
bilateral agreements with seven Pacific investment in an effort to force a return the 2014 elections and are likely to be used
countries whose leaders were in the Fijian to democracy. again at the polls later this year.
capital, Suva, for the occasion. China, however, had no such qualms Despite the rhetoric Australia imports
It was also an opportune time for Baini- and was prepared to turn a blind eye to close to US$1.214 billion in goods from
marama to position himself as primus political infractions if it meant easy ac- Fiji and exports US$777 million.
inter pares – first among equals – in the cess to resources for Xi’s One Belt, One After Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016
hierarchy of regional leadership. Road policy. the Australian and New Zealand defence
During the welcome ceremonies for The Chinese were willing to regard the forces were the first on the ground and
Xi in the tourist town of Nadi, the Fijian 2006 coup as an internal affair. Fiji’s largest neighbours provided the bulk
leader was openly critical of Australia and “We have always respected Fiji’s sta- of rehabilitation assistance including the
New Zealand, describing China as a true tus as an independent nation and we rebuilding of schools.
friend which had never interfered in Fiji’s have called on the other countries to do China, on the other hand, provided tents
internal politics. the same and reconsider their attitudes and a slush fund – no questions asked.
This was a reference to the sanctions towards Fiji and the current situation in Again its main consideration is to en-
imposed on Bainimarama’s regime after the country,” a Chinese Foreign Affairs sure that no matter what, the resources
he seized power. Ministry spokesperson said in 2006. flow north.

26 Islands Business, April 2018