Australia-Fiji deal ‘weeks away’ as Pacific faces crime and China threats

Australia and Fiji move toward a landmark Vuvale Union agreement, while leaders weigh regional crime risks and China’s expanding influence.

Penny Wong has dismissed concerns Fiji’s institutions may be “compromised” as the final details of a landmark agreement appears only weeks away.. The Foreign Affairs Minister touched down in Suva on Tuesday for talks with Pacific leaders, including a meeting with Australia’s Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy and members of the Fijian parliament.. At the heart of the talks is the Vuvale Union, a multifaceted agreement with Fiji covering security – including combating transnational crime

– economic measures, and people-to-people connections.. Addressing the media, Senator Wong said the agreement would be “guided by durability, sovereignty, and regionalism”, with the final details to be hashed out between officials in the weeks to come.. “This union will benefit out people and our regional for generations to come,” she said.. However, the visit comes at a precarious time for the Fiji and the Pacific.. China has intensified efforts to expand its influence in

the South Pacific, including scuttling a $500m military treaty between Australia and Vanuatu.. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka also this week ruled out declaring a state of emergency in the country of less than one million after security forces launched a nationwide campaign targeting drug and gang-related activities.. The operation came after the death of an alleged drug figure while in military custody.. On Wednesday, Senator Wong was asked by a reporter from the Fiji

Sun about intelligence sharing provisions of the agreement, and about concerns “in Fiji that our institutions are compromised”.. “This policy is predicated on a number of key principles.. One of them is sovereignty, and one of them is democracy, and we work with you on strengthening your capability,” Senator Wong replied.. “We work with you in partnership in the areas that Fiji identifies as a priority, to strengthen your resilience, your institutions, and your capacity..

“Because, we are democracies and that principle is very dear to both governments and both countries and both peoples.” While in Fiji, Senator Wong formally ratified the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat in Suva.. The PRF is billed as the first Pacific-led, owned, and managed community resilience financing facility, and will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and projects that respond to loss and damage.. Tonga, Nauru,

the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Niue have already ratified the Treaty.. Addressing the PIF on Tuesday, Senator Wong noted how “acutely exposed” Pacific nations were to rising fuel costs stemming from the Iran war, and the potential of future supply risks.. “Australia is providing support and technical assistance to Pacific partners to develop and implement national response plans, this will help governments of the region manage

immediate pressures and continue delivering essential services to the people of the Pacific,” she said.. “And we’re working to draw in support from other longstanding partners including New Zealand, Japan, the US, France, as well as the ADB and the World Bank.. “Co-ordinating these efforts to back in a Pacific-led response to these global shocks makes all of our economies stronger, more secure and more resilient now and into the future.” China policy pivot ANU

Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs Associate-Professor Graeme Smith said China’s approach to the Pacific had shifted since the outbreak of war in the Middle East.. “All of their foreign policy brain is occupied with Trump and Iran,” he said.. “What that means is now who’s running the show as far as China’s interests goes … are companies and increasingly sub-national governments – so, provincial governments, city governments.. “A lot of it has been

outsourced to a few provinces: mostly Guangdong, Fujian and Shandong.” Professor Smith said actions by regional governments, including police training, in the Pacific made them “useful to the central government (and) is a way to attract funding”.. He said China’s highly controversial police presence in the Solomon Islands was “low cost”, but offered Beijing a chance to “showcase a different model of policing and a different model of governing”.. “For me, this is the big

shift we’ve seen in the past 10-15 years,” Professor Smith said.. “They’re trying to sell a model which includes policing, which includes poverty alleviation, which include a whole range of things.. “And, policing is one of those ones that Australia gets particularly sensitive about because we’ve put so much money into police training in Solomons.” As for Australian government, Professor Smith said he did not “know why they’re so obsessed with getting stuff in writing”,

including the on-ice deal with Vanuatu.. “I think Australia going in and pushing to have things signed when there’s not consensus and not a groundswell is a big mistake and leads to own goals like the one we saw last year” in Vanuatu, Professor Smith said.. “Really what it’s about is building relationships and saying … well what do you want, what do you want to do with this, and then just doing it.” ‘Significant

progress’ Speaking earlier, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said “significant progress” had been made during the trip on the Vuvale Union.. “This represents a huge step in our relationship,” Mr Rabuka said.. “I firmly believe that the foundation upon which our partnership is built is anchored in shared values.” Mr Rabuka thanked Australia for its efforts to ensure fuel supplies into the region – with a $30m package from Australia announced on Wednesday, targeting Fiji’s

“digital response” – as well as its “leadership role” in the COP31 climate summit.. “It will enable us to consolidate Pacific priorities, build consensus, and provide the political momentum needed to deliver ambitious outcomes on climate action, finance, and ocean protection,” he said.. Australia dropped its three-year bid to host the talks following a clash with Turkey.. Mr Rabuka also noted Australia’s collaboration in tackling “increasingly complex transnational” crime threats, including through intelligence sharing.. Defence

Industry Minister Pat Conroy said part of the Australia-Fiji agreement would be a commitment to combating transnational crime.. “This is a shared threat throughout the region, but obviously, transnational crime, the threat it presents, has been magnified in Fiji in recent events,” he said.. “I would like to be crystal clear with you and through you to the people of Fiji, the Australian government stand shoulder to shoulder with Fiji in combating transnational crime and

stopping drug trafficking in the Pacific.” Mr Conroy said noted existence assistance to Fiji in the way of patrol boats.. “And, we are announcing today that we are providing financial support for Fiji to acquire integrated border management system to track people of interest.”