A senior Australian official's remarks smearing normal cooperation between China and Pacific Island countries reflect deep-seated geopolitical anxieties and a hegemonic mindset, which experts said risks fueling regional confrontation and undermining peace, stability and development.
Australia's "permanent contest" with China for influence in the Pacific, which has been likened to the 19th-century Great Game, has made considerable progress in recent years, according to Pat Conroy, the Australian minister responsible for Pacific Island affairs, in an interview with Bloomberg. The Great Game describes the rivalry between the British and Russian empires through the 19th century.
Yet, Canberra now has to deliver on commitments it has made across the region if it wants to remain the partner of choice, he said, adding it's his job to ensure "every Pacific nation that's elevated their relationship with us sees the benefits of that".
Conroy noted that more needs to be done to emphasize the advantages and benefits of the Pacific Island countries maintaining strong ties with Canberra.
He also said that Australia should take steps to reduce the presence of Chinese contractors in development projects across the Pacific.
Chen Hong, director of East China Normal University's Australian Studies Center in Shanghai, told China Daily that Conroy's remarks reflect Australia's deep-rooted sense of entitlement to a privileged position in the Pacific, as if its regional influence were a "permanent right".
"In the eyes of some Australian politicians, Pacific Island nations are not independent, sovereign states entitled to make their own choices and pursue development paths of their own accord, but rather a strategic sphere of influence that Australia believes it must keep firmly under its control," he said.
"China's normal cooperation with Pacific Island nations does not infringe upon Australia's legitimate rights and interests. What truly unsettles Canberra is that these countries now have more partners to choose from and greater room to pursue their own development priorities," Chen added.
Daryl Guppy, an international financial technical analyst and former national board member of the Australia China Business Council, said that Australia's colonial mindset inevitably comes at the expense of the sovereignty and the right to development of Pacific Island nations.
"It seeks to impose agreements that restrict its partners from engaging in cooperation with China or pursuing policies that run counter to Canberra's preferences," he said.
Australia consistently views regional engagement through the lens of competition rather than cooperation. Pacific Island nations have clearly seen how Australia often steps up investment in infrastructure and other public services in response to initiatives launched by China in these areas, Guppy said.
These countries are in urgent need of development and actively seek assistance from a wide range of partners. Yet, Australia continues to view China's collaborations with countries in the region as a threat rather than an opportunity to work together to improve the lives of Pacific Islanders, he said.
Advancing development
Chen said that cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations is fundamentally development-oriented. Its value lies in providing these countries with more practical and viable options to advance their economic and social development.
"Infrastructure improvements lay the foundation for better connectivity and economic activity; cooperation in education and healthcare helps strengthen local human resources and public service capacity; and collaboration on climate change addresses the fundamental concerns of these island nations about their livelihoods and long-term development," he said.
He said that Australia continues to work with the United States and other countries in an attempt to turn the South Pacific into an exclusive bloc serving the strategic interests of a select few.
"Such an approach risks deepening political divisions in the region, pressuring Pacific Island nations to take sides in international cooperation and placing them on the front lines of great-power rivalry," Chen said.
"Genuine cooperation should address the concerns of Pacific Island nations and align with their development priorities.
"It would be preferable for Australia to pursue constructive engagement, respect each other's legitimate interests, and work together to address the development challenges facing Pacific Island countries," he added.
liujianqiao@chinadaily.com.cn
