Overview
Leaders of the Pacific island countries met in Fiji on Thursday to discuss Japan’s release of treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean, which they believe could be harmful to marine life in the region.
Fijian PM and forum chairman Sitiveni Rabuka said in a statement ahead of the meeting that the meeting is “set against the backdrop of increasing geopolitical interests in [the] region, coupled with the real threats posed by climate change.” “Solidarity in our Pacific family is ever so critical,” he added.
#Tonga PM Sovaleni @Huakavameiliku commends return of #Kiribati to the Forum family, credits the strength of regionalism as Pacific Leaders prepare for their Special Leaders retreat in Nadi next week in joint PIF-@TongaPm presser. #Pacific2050 #SuvaAgreement pic.twitter.com/xGOnxGNKXn
— Pacific Islands Forum (@ForumSEC) February 17, 2023
Global Powers Eyeing the Region
On the same day as the meeting, Australia, a major aid donor to the region, announced a $423.31 million health programme for the Pacific islands. The move comes as China’s influence grows in the region, as it has signed security deals with several regional countries, such as the Solomon Islands.
China, on Tuesday, released the “Global Security Initiative” Concept Paper, which lists countries of the Pacific islands among the superpower’s top priorities for multilateral security cooperation.
The paper affirmed that China would “pay high attention” to the region and “increase the provision of materials, funds and talents to help island countries improve their ability to deal with non-traditional security threats.”
Kiribati’s Return
#Kiribati the first country in the region to launch its #ECD policy- VicePres. Dr. Teuea Toatu poses the big questions on climatechange impacts on #ECD at the @PacificECD 2023 Forum. pic.twitter.com/v8u58cEHJU
— Pacific Islands Forum (@ForumSEC) February 21, 2023
During the meeting, members will also formalise Kiribati’s return to the grouping. The country had left the group a day prior to the last meeting in July, fuelling concerns that it had been isolated after establishing diplomatic ties with China.
Meg Keen, director of the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, said that the meeting was “absolutely a show of unity” since Kiribati’s proposal for return.