Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his support for Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s “Ocean of Peace” plan during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. The endorsement came just days before a summit of Pacific Island leaders is set to take place in Tonga. Xi Jinping also pledged to strengthen trade ties with Fiji, an archipelagic state looking to upgrade its infrastructure, including ports, shipbuilding, roads, and sewage systems. However, these improvements are contingent on securing better trade terms for its agricultural and fisheries exports due to the country’s significant debt burden.
According to Chinese state media, Xi Jinping stated, “China appreciates Prime Minister Rabuka’s vision for an Ocean of Peace and is committed to working with Fiji to contribute to international peace and security.” This statement was part of a readout released late Tuesday night.
Regional Security and the “Ocean of Peace” Vision
Prime Minister Rabuka, who resumed office in 2022, has been advocating for an “Ocean of Peace” foreign policy, which he has proposed to other Pacific leaders. The policy aims to engage with all major powers while avoiding the militarisation of the Pacific Islands. During the meeting, Rabuka expressed his satisfaction with Xi’s support, stating, “I am very much encouraged by your principles, your ideas on peaceful coexistence, on the principles of progress. They are in line with what I have in mind for the concept of the Ocean of Peace.” He added that he would mention the Chinese leader’s backing of the plan at the upcoming summit in Tonga, where leaders from 18 Pacific island countries and territories will convene to discuss regional issues, including a policing proposal backed by Australia.
Rabuka’s visit to China, ahead of his 10-day tour, has drawn attention as the Pacific region becomes a focal point for strategic competition between China and the US. Despite the growing tensions, Rabuka has maintained that he will not disrupt regional security, emphasising the need for peaceful coexistence and progress.
China-Fiji Cooperation and Strategic Importance
In addition to supporting Rabuka’s vision, China has agreed to invest in Fiji’s tourism, agriculture, and fisheries industries. The Chinese government will also support a road upgrading project on Fiji’s second-largest island. Despite the Pacific Island states typically offering a low return on investment, analysts highlight Fiji’s strategic importance to China. Positioned at the southern end of the “second island chain,” which stretches to Japan, Fiji is crucial to China’s naval ambitions in the region.
China’s growing interest in the Pacific also aligns with its efforts to diplomatically isolate Taiwan. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and seeks to sever the island’s diplomatic ties with Pacific nations such as the Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu.
Fiji’s financial relationship with China is significant, with the island nation owing just over $218 million to China, the world’s largest bilateral lender, according to World Bank data. However, following his election in 2022, Rabuka has sought additional aid from Australia. This move represents a shift from the approach taken by his predecessor, Frank Bainimarama, who established a policing agreement with China a decade ago. In June, Rabuka announced a “police force reset,” signifying a pivot towards closer cooperation with Australia in policing matters.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
