Racial Tension on Rise in PNG

Australia Network News - 19 September 2011

A Chinese diplomat in Papua New Guinea says anti-Asia sentiment in provinces outside Port Moresby continues to spread, while security in the capital has been brought under control.

Xiaoliang Chao Political counselor of the Chinese Embassy to PNG, says Chinese store owners in the region fear more looting.

The Chinese embassy has called on the PNG government to restore order and protect business owners.

Resentment

The Catholic Archbishop for Mount Hagen Dr Douglas Young says the issue of foreign owned business in Papua New Guinea has to be examined in light of the recent violence against Asian operated businesses.

Dr Young says there has been a feeling within the community that some overseas investors appear to find it easier than other long term residents when applying to be allowed to operate in PNG.

He says this has fuelled resentment.

"People in Papua New Guinea who would like to run certain business but feel that they are shut out," the archbishop said.

Asian owned businesses have been looted with several people killed during the violence.

There have been calls for greater restrictions on foreign-owned enterprises. Dr Young says there needs to be a thorough examination of how Immigration grants visas and permission for overseas investors.

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Fiji and its China Connection

by Ratu Tevita Mara - 06 September 2011

Truth for Fiji

The Fiji problem is being viewed by all as purely a political matter. From my perspective however, as a former Fiji Senior Military Officer, it also has pertinent security and defence implications and applications for the South Pacific Region, and particularly for Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America.

The Cuban Relevance


If we look at history and to what happened in Cuba then we should be able to benefit from its lessons. Cuba’s situation is very similar to what is happening in Fiji.


Like Fiji, it began with a revolution. In January 1959 Fidel Castro overthrew the Cuban Government of President Fulgencia Batista.  Today, some 52 years later, Castro has stepped aside because of health reasons, and his brother Raul is now President. 

Fidel, in the early years, like the murderer Bainimarama, also spoke of elections to return the country to democracy. It did not happen, it has not happened and it will not happen. Cuba was expelled from the regional Organisation of American States and the United States severed relations with it. Too late, way too late, there was a US sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion but it failed. In the meantime, the vacuum created by the US’s stand-off, led to the then Soviet Union moving in to Cuba and controlling it. 

Cuba then began to reach out to the countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, the same as Fiji is going with the MSG countries and some Polynesian countries. It led to the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union. As other Caribbean countries fell under the influence of Cuba, the US invaded Grenada and removed the pro-Cuba government. We can avoid a similar situation if we act now.

China


But history has a nasty habit of repeating itself. China, recognizing an opportunity from the coup in Fiji to expand its power of influence and to make the Pacific Island Countries geo-political, and a possible Sphere of Influence, acted quickly. It expanded its influence over Fiji with speed. So why didn’t Australia, New Zealand or the US do the same?.........this is for another statement.

No criticism is being levelled against China. The PRC is acting in pursuit of its national interests, which dictates its foreign policy.

The murderer and military Junta ruler Voreqe Bainimarama became a close friend, ally and collaborator of China. The PRC lavished attention, huge financial grants, excessive loans, private sector investments, and most important and relevant, Military Training and the supply of military material. Fiji is now a “satellite” of China. This situation is a carbon copy of the Soviet Union and Cuba. 

China, with Fiji’s illegal Chairmanship of the MSG, expanded its relations with MSG countries. In July 2010, China participated in the MSG Summit post-dialogue at the Fiji Inter-Continental Hotel in Nadi. It also participates in the Donors’ Conference at Pacific Island Forum Meetings. China also engages with some Polynesian countries and is also one of the most influential countries in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). Under the influence of China, Fiji joined NAM.

This situation is certainly not in the national interest of Australia and New Zealand and its regional foreign policy.  Both South Pacific powers need to act condignly, purposefully and effectively to bring an early end to the Fiji military Junta led by the murderer Bainimarama. The Fiji problem does not inhere with China. China saw an opportunity and grasped it with both hands. The problem lies with the Fiji military Junta and Fiji’s true enemy, the murderer Bainimarama. 

The ANZAC powers should not only be concerned but must also act to bring about the collapse of the Fiji Military Junta, as soon as possible. They should be informed by the Cuban Revolution, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Castro Communist 52-year rule and its similarities to Fiji... with a Dictator Bainimarama, no rule of law, no fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens, total military control, no media freedom, no freedom of speech, no right to dissent, no right of assembly, no trade union movement, restriction on Churches and NO FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS.

The United States


It is also, in the interests of security and defence, that the United States collaborate with Australia and New Zealand to bring an early end to both the Military Dictatorship in Fiji. 

The Pacific Island Countries geo-political region is becoming a Sphere of Influence for China and this is not in the interests of the United States, Australia or New Zealand. The South Pacific ocean lanes are vital to the defence and security of the United States.  

Australia and New Zealand, close allies, have always been and should also remain the major powers in the South Pacific.  With China’s growing presence in the South Pacific and its location in the North Pacific, its relations with North Korea and influence in the Pacific far east, it would have control of the Pacific seaboard of the United States. 

China also has an influential presence in the Caribbean and Latin America and the southern flank of the United States.  With its massive Official Development Assistance (ODA), private sector investments and technical assistance, China is being called the new Super Power by military and political analysts.

Conclusion


It is not in the national, defence and security interests of Australia, New Zealand and the United States for the Pacific Island Countries South Pacific geo-political area to become a Sphere of Influence of China. It is not in the interest of Australia and New Zealand to allow Fiji to become the Cuba of the South Pacific. Australia, New Zealand and the United States must act in concert with alacrity to bring an end to Bainimarama’s military junta in Fiji.  

The hold off in the belief that the illegal Fiji regime will hold elections in 2014 is ill-advised. Castro promised elections in Cuba in 1959 and today, 52 years later, there have been no elections. Elections in Fiji in 2014 will never happen. Australia and New Zealand must review its role in the Forum and, especially, their decreasing influence in the Pacific. The Fiji problem is not solely political, it also has defence and security implications for Australia, New Zealand and the United States.  Action now, rather than later, will be of benefit to the region as a whole and free the oppressed people of Fiji.

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Anti-Chinese Racial Trouble Threatening South Pacific

 by Michael Field
 10 July 2011

A Tongan police bust of a Chinese drug syndicate and the conviction of a human trafficker have stirred concerns that small Pacific Island nations could be facing racial disturbances.

Political and diplomatic sources in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Fiji warn of the bubbling tensions.

New Zealand police and military restored order after riots in 2006 in Tonga and the Solomon Islands which had anti-Chinese elements in them.

``We can't rule out more riots that contains an anti-Chinese element,'' University of Auckland international relations lecturer Jian Yang says.

Tonga which will next week be visited by Foreign Minister Murray McCully is seen as straddling a Chinese-Polynesian fault-line.

Police there, supported by New Zealand Police, disrupted a Chinese syndicate's methamphetamine laboratory. Four China nationals and a Taiwanese citizen were arrested, along with a Tongan policeman.

Earlier, Chinese national Liu Lirong was convicted on human trafficking and prostitution charges linked to importing women from China.

Around 4000 Chinese live in Tonga, which has a population of 110,000.Prime Minister Lord Tu'ivakano, before he became premier, banned Chinese shops from his Nukunuku district.

This week Tonga's Ministry of Labour issued a statement aimed squarely at Chinese without naming them.It said the operation of businesses without valid licenses ``is a serious concern'' and called for people to expose small shopping operations so that government inspectors can ``subject (them) to the on-going inspectorate initiatives''.

The ministry said it wanted to ``create a level playing field for business to compete fairly and restore business integrity and confidence to do business in the kingdom''.

The actions are being replicated across the Pacific.

Last year when Mr McCully was in Kiribati, government officials pointed out big Chinese shops which were forcing locals out of business.

Earlier this year the Samoa Chamber of Commerce's Sina Retzlaff-Lima warned of anti-Chinese riots, saying it was not an issue of race but of the law.``

It's protecting our small micro and medium enterprises; it's protecting the opportunity for the local business person who is in the retail industry.''

The government newspaper Savali responded by saying that rather than hating Chinese, Samoans should learn their business skills.

``The Chinese are very good at living within their means, saving their money and reinvesting in their business,'' Savali said, ``important attributes we can all learn from.'' Dr Yang, whose book The Pacific Islands in China's Grand Strategy is to be published later this year, said the Pacific was not alone in experiencing growing numbers of Chinese migrants.

He said migrant Chinese tended to focus on retailing as they were small businesses that were easy to run, they had ready access to sources of supply in China and they could easily get advice and support from their family, relatives and friends.

``It is unfair to blame the Chinese immigrants for being hardworking and economically capable. They make good contributions to the South Pacific economies.''

He said their wealth attracted attention and caused problems.

``The new Chinese immigrants do need to show due respect to local cultures and laws and to give back to the society. Chinese government officials are also critical of some new Chinese immigrants' behaviours.

``However, they feel that they can't do much to address the problems,'' Dr Yang said.

Chinese tycoons have recently arrived on PNG's Bougainville island in a bid to take over the largest open cast mine in the world at Panguna.

It was closed in 1989 at the start of a decade-long bloody civil war which only ended with a New Zealand-brokered truce.

The copper and gold mine is still closed.

The Chinese group say they will build a NZ$620 million city on Bougainville.They tried to visit Panguna but according to the PNG Post Courier newspaper they were ``chased out'' by the rebel Me'ekamui Defence Force which demands an independent state.
``We did not fight for the Chinese to come over,'' Me'ekamui's Chris Uma told the newspaper. The incident took place near where the movie Mr Pip, starring Hugh Laurie and based on the Lloyd Jones novel, is being filmed.

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China Trade Integrates with Pacific

by Elenoa Baselala

Fiji Times - Saturday, February 19, 2011

CHINA's trade integration with the Pacific has accelerated, the ANZ Bank says.

An analysis carried out by the bank showed that the Pacific's export growth to China had been driven by the resource-based economies.

The report says that China had been gaining a steady share of Pacific import markets.

As a result, the Pacific now imported more from China than New Zealand.

Australia remains the region's largest trading partner.

"The Pacific's export intensity to China has not increased but import intensity has grown considerably," the report said.

"We think trade deepening between China and the Pacific will continue, more or less unabated.

"China's trade with the Pacific has exploded over the past decade."

The report said that total trade between Pacific countries and China has grown on an average of 30 per cent, from a mere $180million in 2001 to over $1.5bn in 2010.

"Import growth has outpaced export growth, averaging 34 per cent a year, with imports reaching a peak of $726mn in 2009," the report said.

"Exports have grown 30 per cent on average since 2001, and surpassed $1.0bn for the first time in 2010.

"Trade flows, however, were affected by the global financial crises (GFC)." The report said Pacific export growth rebounded by a whopping 96 per cent in 2010, compared with a contraction of 25 per cent in 2009.

The level of exports reached $1.1bn in 2010.

In particular, exports from PNG to China more than doubled, exceeding $780mn, while the Solomon Islands also posted strong export growth of 61 per cent, with shipments reaching a record $287mn.

The slowdown in 2009, the report said, could be attributed to the GFC, while the strong pick-up in 2010 was due to China's resumed demand for minerals, oil and other resources from PNG and timber from the Solomon Islands.

But Pacific imports from China eased in 2010 after reaching record levels in 2009.

Imports contracted 16 per cent in 2010, compared with positive growth of 41 per cent in 2009.

This was the first negative growth rate in the decade.

Imports totalled $611m in 2010. The decline in imports from China in 2009 could be attributed to PNG's imports contracting 32 per cent to $353mn and Vanuatu's imports halving.

But Fiji's imports grew 32 per cent, Samoa's doubled, the Solomon Islands was up over 69 per cent, and Tonga's grew by 22 per cent.