China singled out after Kiribati's departure from the Pacific Forum

South Tarawa, capital of Kiribatu.

© Wikimedia Commons / Government of Kiribati

Text by: Igor Gauquelin Follow

5 mins

On July 9, the President of Kiribati, in the Micronesia region, announced that his country was leaving the Pacific Islands Forum, the PIF.

The news comes at a bad time, as the leaders of the regional organization are in a crucial meeting in Fiji this week, until July 14.

Some members hope to change the archipelago's mind, suspected of giving in to the Chinese charm offensive.

Advertising

Read more

One more island nation less, within

.

The Kiribati are leaving the politico-economic organization, and causing unease, at the very moment when the leaders of other members are in Suva, capital of Fiji and headquarters of the FIP, to discuss regional issues, which are major.

In the background: fears of rising waters in this part of the world.

In a letter sent on July 9 to the Secretary General, President Taneti Maamau justifies " 

 " of his country, which shelters 120,000 souls, " 

 ", by the non-appointment of a person from his region. , Micronesia, at the head of the Forum.

Several other Micronesian members threatened to do the same, but backed out after a recent agreement.

In February,

 had 

, expressing their disappointment at the failure of the candidate who had their favor.

The agreement recently reached consists of a rotation on the general secretariat, explains AFP.

The issue is due to be discussed during the leaders' meeting this week, with the challenge being to see if the FIP can effectively weigh in on issues relating to its survival in the future.

Kiribati do not feel heard

Founded in 1971, the FIP had 18 members listed on the organization's official website.

In addition to Kiribati and Palau, there are Australia, the Cooks, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea , the Marshalls, Samoa, Solomons, Tonga, Tuvalu and the archipelago of Vanuatu.

New Caledonia the 1st

that in his missive, the Head of State of Kiribati evokes the feeling of being sidelined.

He said he was dissatisfied with the Suva agreement, signed last month, aimed at restoring the political unity of the organization, and encouraging the Micronesian countries to stay.

The agreement was not signed by South Tarawa – capital of Kiribati – and led to reforms that would go wrong.

Our colleagues add that the number one of Kiribati had also requested the postponement of the summit, which fell on the national holiday of his country, July 12.

A request, he laments, “ 

 ”.

Tuvalu's Foreign Minister, Simon Kofe, nevertheless hopes that the Kiribati authorities will reconsider their decision.

►Read again: Their islands are sinking, how small island states are trying to fight back at the COP

A strategic archipelago in more ways than one

Concern dominates in the Kiribati archipelago.

These islands are low, and therefore vulnerable to rising waters.

In May, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi went there, as part of a 

, signing ten agreements with several countries, covering various subjects such as the climate or the economy, but not security, as stated by New Caledonia the 1st.

On the other hand, an agreement relating to security issues, Beijing did indeed sign one 

, last April.

Enough to tickle the United States, which has major strategic interests in the Pacific, starting with Hawaii.

Interests which, precisely, concern China, in search of influence to break the vice of the Americans and their allies.

Kiribati benefits from a very large Exclusive Economic Zone, rich in resources and located less than 3,000 kilometers from Hawaii.

To make matters worse, the archipelago is also home to an

of almost two kilometers, threatened by the rising waters.

In short, everything to please Beijing, which could help raise the level of the country's infrastructure, moderately in return.

►Read also: With son Marcos, what position for the Philippines in the "China Sea"?

The hope that they do not go "all the way"

Australians

and New Zealanders are going to the front, faced with the risk of seeing Kiribati let go of this "bloc", which would like to be a "central architecture" in the definition of the region's security strategy, but which is going through an existential crisis.

The head of Australian diplomacy says he is working hard, with Fiji too, so that Kiribati does not go " 

 ".

Australia is pledging A$2 million to meet drinking water needs there amid severe drought, 

" .

, to his eyes.

Especially since the 51st session of the PIF leaders is the first face-to-face meeting of the Forum since 2019.

On the initial agenda of the event, pell-mell: socio-economic and climatic challenges, the Covid, or “ 

 ”.

We are right on topic.

The "Strategy for the Pacific Blue Continent to 2050" must also be updated.

The leaders of the Pacific were to discuss fishing, tuna, if the Kiribati affair allows it.

The ministers were also to consider "

 reads

, " 

 ”.

Finally, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy had to intervene from a distance.

►Read again: In the Pacific, the American nuclear past poisons the Marshall Islands

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Kiribati

• Climate change

• oceans

• Water

• China

• our selection