 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| . |  |
. |
 by Staff Writers Yaren, Nauru (AFP) Sept 4, 2018
A visa row between China and host nation Nauru almost derailed the Pacific's largest annual diplomatic summit, it emerged Tuesday, exposing sensitivities about Beijing's rising influence in the region. As formal discussions began at the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum, leaked letters revealed some members threatened to boycott the meeting over Nauru's treatment of Chinese delegates. Nauru does not have diplomatic relations with China, instead recognising self-ruled Taiwan, which has paid for much of the infrastructure being used to host the PIF summit. Beijing and Taipei have vied for diplomatic influence in the Pacific for decades, with both sides offering aid and support to small island states in return for recognition. In an apparent bid to tweak the nose of Chinese delegates, Nauru refused to stamp entry visas into their diplomatic passports, instead saying it would only process their personal passports. While seemingly a minor detail, it provoked a furious response from other PIF members, many of whom receive development aid and concessional loans from Beijing. China claims sovereignty over the democratic island and relations between the two have worsened since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016, as her government refuses to acknowledge that Taiwan is part of "one China". Samoa Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi sent a letter to Nauru President Baron Waqa threatening to withdraw from the summit and warning other leaders were likely to follow suit. "Your unilateral action as President of Nauru is a dangerous precedent that I believe may not be accepted by forum leaders," he wrote in a letter obtained by AFP. He added: "The decision taken by your government questions the integrity, credibility and foundation of our organisation." Waqa eventually relented and proposed a compromise in which the Chinese delegation had their visa acceptance letters stamped, rather than their passports. - 'Rock and a hard place' - China does not belong to the PIF but is one of 18 countries that attends as a "dialogue partner" for discussions with member nations. Australia's Lowy Institute think tank estimates China provided US$1.78 billion in aid, including concessional loans, to Pacific nations between 2006-16. The "soft power" wielded by Beijing has alarmed Australia and New Zealand, with both countries boosting their own aid programmes in a bid to maintain influence in a region they regard as their backyard. New Zealand's desire to rekindle relations with its Pacific neighbours is so intense that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is leaving her newborn baby Neve at home in Auckland to attend the summit Wednesday for just one day. Ardern in June became only the second world leader to give birth while in office after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990. But her daughter has not had vaccinations and cannot yet travel. Some political pundits criticised the extra NZ$80,000 ($53,000) Arden's flying visit would cost, on top of the travel expenses of New Zealand's official delegation. "I was between a rock and a hard place, damned if I did and damned if I didn't," she told reporters. "At the end of the day the option was go for a short time or don't go at all." Ardern said New Zealand's offer to take 150 of the estimated 900 asylum seekers on Nauru was still on the table. They are on the island as part of Australia's tough immigration policy, which sees asylum-seekers who try to reach Australia by boat detained and processed in remote camps on Nauru and Papua New Guinea. Concerns over the asylum seekers' welfare has dominated the lead up to the PIF summit, with rights groups alleging many are suffering mental health issues due to indefinite detention and systemic abuse.
Cook Islands does not want China debt write-off Avarua, Cook Islands (AFP) Aug 24, 2018 The Cook Islands on Friday rejected suggestions small Pacific island nations should band together and pressure China to write off loans given under Beijing's foreign aid programme. Tonga Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva floated the idea earlier this month, saying repayments were eroding national budgets and the issue should be discussed at next month's Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Nauru. But his Samoan counterpart Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi immediately dismissed the call and this week Cook Isla ... read more
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
