SYDNEY: Fiji is against China establishing a navy base within the Pacific Islands, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka mentioned on Wednesday (Jul 2), including that it didn’t want such a base to mission energy, as proven by an intercontinental ballistic missile check.
Strategically positioned between the USA and Asia, the Pacific Islands are a spotlight of rivalry between Washington and Beijing for safety ties.
The islands have been making an attempt to deal with a giant, highly effective China looking for to unfold its affect, Rabuka advised the Nationwide Press Membership within the Australian capital, including that Beijing understood he would foyer different Pacific leaders in opposition to such a base.
“Pacific leaders in all their latest discussions have tried to go for insurance policies which might be pleasant to all and enemies to none – and it’s a pretty robust course to steer, however it’s potential,” he added.
The Pacific would really feel the affect of any battle over the Taiwan Strait between main powers, a risk already being deliberate for by China and different nations, he mentioned.
Fiji opposes institution of a navy base by China, he mentioned, in response to queries on Beijing’s safety ambitions in a area the place it already has a safety pact with the Solomon Islands and a police presence in a number of nations.
“In the event that they wish to come, who would welcome them?” he mentioned. “Not Fiji.”
China’s embassy in Fiji didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, and Beijing has beforehand dominated out establishing a navy base within the Solomon Islands.
China didn’t want a base to mission energy, Rabuka added, as Beijing examined an intercontinental ballistic missile in September that flew over Fiji to land in worldwide waters.
