China has been indulging in Renminbi Diplomacy across the Pacific Islands for some years, and it seems to be paying dividends as the long-established voice for Pasifika, the Pacific Forum, fractures.
The claim is that Kiribati is withdrawing at China's behest, and coming on the back of a security accord with the Solomon Islands, it's starting to look like the western pacific islands are aligning with China, while the more traditionalists like Fiji & Samoa are sticking with the west.
Aussie is rightly concerned, with the islands most-closely aligning to China all being on their side of the ocean. Solomon Islands are only a short step from Aussie, and China now has the ability to station vessels there. I imagine the RSL in Aussie would be spitting tacks at the deal, given the number of diggers who died there in WWII.
I think Aussie, NZ & USA all need to up their game to counter China in the Pacific - we have a long and mutual respect for each other and NZ & Aussie never need to be asked to provide aid, nor do we seek political accommodations in return. I doubt they'll get that same respect from China.
The claim is that Kiribati is withdrawing at China's behest, and coming on the back of a security accord with the Solomon Islands, it's starting to look like the western pacific islands are aligning with China, while the more traditionalists like Fiji & Samoa are sticking with the west.
Aussie is rightly concerned, with the islands most-closely aligning to China all being on their side of the ocean. Solomon Islands are only a short step from Aussie, and China now has the ability to station vessels there. I imagine the RSL in Aussie would be spitting tacks at the deal, given the number of diggers who died there in WWII.
I think Aussie, NZ & USA all need to up their game to counter China in the Pacific - we have a long and mutual respect for each other and NZ & Aussie never need to be asked to provide aid, nor do we seek political accommodations in return. I doubt they'll get that same respect from China.
via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/y3OdcHZ
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