Page 18 - IB May 2018 Edition

Politics

are a non-aligned coun- on self-determination in New Caledonia at
try. We are not interested the end of 2018, in accordance with the
in militarisation; we are Noumea Accord, and welcomed all mea-
just not interested in any sures taken to guarantee a just, free, fair
sort of military base in and transparent process for an outcome
our country.” acceptable to the peoples of New Caledo-
A subsequent state- nia.” They also “affirmed the inalienable
ment by Prime Minister Vanuatu Foreign right of the people of French Polynesia-
Charlot Salwai Tabimas- Minister Ralph Ma’ohi Nui to self-determination.”
mas noted: “The govern- Regenvanu Photo: The furore over the purported Chinese
Nic Maclellan
ment will fiercely oppose base also came three days after a visit
any attempt to build a military base in to Vanuatu by HRH Prince Charles and
the country that is the happiest place in Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop,
the world and which is a direct affront of aboard a Royal Australian Air Force VIP
its policy to promote peace and security plane. This tour, which saw the future
in the region.” monarch warmly welcomed in Port Vila,
Prime Minister Salwai stated that his was presented in Australia as an attempt
government “utterly refutes claims by to strengthen Vanuatu’s ties to the Com-
Fairfax Media…that it has been ap- monwealth, in the lead up to the Com-
HMAS Adelaide – Australia’s new amphibious assault proached by the government of China monwealth Heads of Government Meeting
vessel Photo: ADF
in the pretext of setting up a permanent (CHOGM) in London on 16-18 April.
military presence in Vanuatu; further Bishop stated: “Vanuatu is one of Aus-
Vanuatu that preliminary discussions have been tralia’s closest neighbours, an important
economic and security partner, and a fel-
held between respective governments to
low member of the Commonwealth.
that end.”
There have been numerous “China in
“The visit of His Royal Highness re-
dismisses the Pacific” stories in recent years, but the flects the shared interest Australia and
Fairfax Media articles came as Vanuatu
the United Kingdom have in a revitalised
was engaged in a range of international Commonwealth,” she added. “Stronger
China base diplomatic exchanges. As the Vanuatu partnerships with our Pacific island neigh-
bours are a key priority for Australia,
government noted: “The article and the
as identified in the 2017 Foreign Policy
timing of its release are rather speculative
claim and seemingly malicious in intent.” White Paper.”
Bishop’s diplomacy was undercut by
The first of three front-page stories
came on 10 April, just days after Foreign
the media stories, which recycled claims
Minister Regenvanu travelled to Baku about Chinese military expansionism that
in Azerbaijan to attend a Non-Aligned are promoted through think tanks funded
Movement (NAM) ministerial meeting on by the Australian Department of Defence
5-6 April (PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink as well as US arms manufacturers.
Pato was also visiting China from 10-15 If planting the stories was designed
April, preparing for President Xi Jinping’s to warn off Melanesian governments, it
first visit to Papua New Guinea for No- seems to have backfired. Prime Minister
vember’s APEC summit). Salwai praised Vanuatu’s relationship
By Nic Maclellan
The Non-Aligned Movement is one with Beijing, noting: “The Vanuatu gov-
LAST month, front page stories in the of the largest international networks, ernment greatly values its relationship
Fairfax newspapers, Sydney Morning involving 120 member states. Vanuatu with the government of China as an im-
Herald and The Age claimed “there have first joined the NAM in 1983 under the portant development partner, friend and
been preliminary discussions between the leadership of Father Walter Lini (the global leader for the benefit of our people
Chinese and Vanuatu governments about only other Oceania member is Fiji, which in term of employment and economic
a military build-up in the island nation.” joined in 2012 at a time the post-coup development.”
These discussions were presented as “a Bainimarama regime was suspended from The Australian government also copped
globally significant move that could see the Forum and Commonwealth). domestic criticism over its cuts to foreign
the rising superpower sail warships on A delegation from the Kanak Socialist aid, with ALP foreign affairs spokesper-
Australia’s doorstep.” National Liberation Front (FLNKS) – a son Penny Wong stating that the Turnbull
Citing unnamed “senior security of- fellow member with Vanuatu of the Mela- government had “dropped the ball” in its
ficials,” the newspapers claimed “the nesian Spearhead Group – also attended relations with Pacific neighbours. It will
prospect of a Chinese military outpost the NAM meeting in Baku. Accompanied be worth watching the May 2018 federal
has been discussed at the highest level by staff from the MSG secretariat (which budget to see if the Coalition continues
in Canberra and Washington.” is based in Port Vila), the FLNKS lobbied with cuts to overseas aid announced last
Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regen- for developing nation support in the lead year, which will see Australian aid drop
vanu immediately dismissed the claims, up to the 4 November referendum on self- from 0.23 to 0.2 per cent of gross national
stating: “No one in the Vanuatu govern- determination in New Caledonia. income over the next three years.
ment has ever talked about a Chinese NAM foreign ministers reaffirmed
military base in Vanuatu of any sort. We “their strong support for the referendum r nicmaclellan@optusnet.com

18 Islands Business, May 2018