PM Jacinda Ardern addresses media at Pacific Islands Forum. Video / NZ Herald
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has given an “unprecedented” address to Pacific leaders during a regional meeting where two Chinese Embassy staffers were removed from a media area by security.
China tried to insert itself into the fisheries meeting as two embassy workers initially posed as media. The Herald is seeking further information about the incident.
Harris was granted access to speak to the forum by chairman and Fijian PM Frank Bainimarama, despite observer countries, including the US and China, being officially excluded from traditional dialogue partner roles to keep the focus on “unity” within the forum.
“We recognise that in recent years, the Pacific Islands may not have received in diplomatic attention and support that you deserve,” said Harris, addressing Pacific ministers virtually today in Suva. New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta and Australia’s Penny Wong were also present.
“So today I’m here to tell you directly we are going to change that.”
Announcements overnight included an increase to funding for the region, tripling fishing-related assistance to nearly $1 billion over the next decade, and new embassies in Tonga and Kiribati – which has left the forum, sparking concerns its close relations with China could be at play.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke to media this afternoon after a bilateral meeting with Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare.
She said it was a chance to “speak openly” about things.
She said she reiterated the importance of the relationship to New Zealand, and spoke about NZ’s intentions to continue and extend police training and help to the Solomon Islands.
She had also raised concern about the Solomons’ deal with China: “It would be New Zealand’s deep concern to see anything that contributed to the militarisation of the region”.
She said Sogavare had expressed the same concern, and she believed there was consensus on that in forum countries.
After her meeting with Sogavare, she said she had made it clear it would be helpful to have more transparency around the terms of the agreement between the Solomons and China, but there was at least some agreement around concern of militarisation.
Sogavare had said that it had not been released because both countries had to agree.
Ardern said she had assured Sogavare that New Zealand was always willing and able to respond if the Solomons needed assistance on security, and if there was anything in particular that had resulted in them turning to China for that instead to let her know.
Ardern also met Fiji’s Bainimarama and signed the Suva Agreement – an arrangement worked out by Bainimarama to provide for the Micronesia countries to nominate the forum’s next Secretary General.
She hoped that would result in Kiribati agreeing to rejoin the forum in the future.
Ardern said the US had responded to requests from the Pacific countries on tuna fishing, and set out their intentions for engaging in the region, which the forum had called for more of.
“You’ve seen today the US respond to that, and from New Zealand’s point of view that is useful.”
Ardern said climate change was number one on the agenda of what Pacific Islands wanted to focus on: “If you want to work alongside the Pacific, you’ll be working on climate change issues.”
She had also talked to other leaders about the role of New Zealand’s seasonal worker scheme in the post-pandemic era – Fiji, for example, was concerned about its own tourism workers leaving to go to Australia or New Zealand under the scheme.
Ardern said it had to be managed carefully so it was not resulting in a loss of skills from Pacific countries.
Harris spoke at the invitation of forum host Bainimarama who said he “welcomed” the “powerful commitment” saying the US would become a “partner like never before”.
In particular Bainimarama made note of the US rejoining the climate change Paris Agreement and pledges to increase ambition in that arena.
As part of initiatives announced overnight, the US is to triple its assistance as part of the US Pacific Tuna Treaty, which grants US boats access to the rich resource, adding up to about NZ$1 billion over the next decade.
Negotiations for the treaty were ongoing, with original conditions set to expire at the end of this year.
New initiatives also include returning the Peace Corps to the region, appointing a US envoy to the forum and establishing a United States Agency for International Development (USAid) Regional Mission for the Pacific in Suva.
Harris also spoke at length of its commitments to climate action and supporting Forum unity.
“You are on the frontline and the world’s emissions have had an outsized impact on your nations,” she said.
“The evidence of course is that sea levels are rising the coral rates that protect her islands and foster fisheries are bleaching and ocean warming is accelerating.
“This is why we work with the world to reduce emissions.”
She said they would partner on the issue and ensure sustainability of fisheries and marine resources, marine security and disaster relief.
“We also intend to expand our overall economic relationships with you as part of that we will pursue infrastructure projects that are sustainable, high quality, climate-friendly and very important and do not result in insurmountable debt.
“President Biden and I consider our relationship with all of you to be a true partnership and a friendship based on mutual respect, mutual trust and mutual benefit.
“We will also work to empower a strong and united Pacific Islands Forum, which will strengthen your voice on the world stage as we continue to work together.
“We will embark on a new chapter in our partnership, a chapter with increased American presence.”
Forum Secretary General Henry Puna said the address was “very refreshing, and also very reassuring that the Americans are now fully committed to re-engaging with the Pacific in a meaningful and substantive way”.
Asked about how it could be perceived by China, Puna said, “Let’s wait and see”.
“For us, this is not about geopolitics. Our history goes back a long way. We’ve been friends for so long. And it’s nice to see that friendship brought back to life in a meaningful way.”
The address and initiatives come hot on the heels of Kiribati breaking away from the Forum. Kiribati has close links to China, switching allegiance from Taiwan in 2019.
It also follows concerns around the Solomon Islands and China security pact, and a push by Beijing to achieve a wider security and economic agreement in the Pacific.
Ardern yesterday said Harris’ address was within the context of fisheries and she did not see the move as anything different from interest in the past.
Ardern said while US and China had been in the Pacific for some time, interest had waxed and waned.
“We have an example of a development partner who’s been around the Pacific for decades, but is certainly increasing their activity, and changing the way in which they engage.”
She said, on the other hand, the US interest had waned in recent years, and was only now gearing up again.
Dr Anna Powles, a Massey University expert in Pacific security, said the address was clearly timed by the US to send a signal to China, which would not have a presence at the leaders’ meetings.
US President Joe Biden addressed the forum virtually last year, but Powles said it was unprecedented for a non-forum member to be given time and access through a virtual meeting during leaders’ week.
“This is very much about the US seeking to position itself as the partner of choice in the Pacific.”
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Powles said while some US-aligned members would likely be supportive, the move could upset others as it would take away focus from the forum’s unity efforts.
“One thing partners need to learn is the difference between presence and getting in the way.”
During opening remarks before her meeting this morning with Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare, Ardern said it was a good chance to speak “face to face”.
Sogavare said the relationship with New Zealand went “way back”, and thanked Ardern for ongoing support especially during Covid-19.
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