Fiji's defense minister has stressed the need for stability in the Pacific and welcomed moves to strengthen security ties with the United States, while criticizing recent missile tests by China as a threat to peace in the region. I strengthened it.
Fiji, a strategically located country of about 1 million people in the Pacific Ocean, maintains ties and receives support from the United States and China amid a broader struggle for influence between the region's two largest powers.
In November, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made a historic visit to Fiji, pledging $4.9 million to modernize the country's military and signing an agreement on “logistics cooperation.” Both countries also status of status agreement It would set rules for U.S. military personnel in Fiji. Mr Austin said the agreement would allow the US to “deploy and redeploy troops in support of Fiji”.
Pio Tikoduadua, Fiji's Minister of Defense, told the Guardian that the $4.9 million pledged by the US would be used to buy some of the country's military's “weapons, particularly small arms such as rifles used overseas by peacekeepers.” He said it would help make changes.
Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Tonga are the only Pacific nations with their own militaries. The US agreement “will support the Fijian military in its quest for the best and most up-to-date weapons, which is why we need to update the capabilities of our peacekeeping troops,” Tikoduadua said. .
Fiji has about 4,000 regular troops deployed to support missions in Iraq, the Golan Heights, South Sudan and elsewhere.
Austin's visit to Fiji was the first by a U.S. Secretary of Defense to a Pacific country. It marked Washington's latest effort to increase aid and strengthen security partnerships with island nations as it battles with Beijing for influence in the Pacific.
China also provides aid and police support to countries across the region. Earlier this year, Fiji announced it would maintain its police cooperation agreement with China after reviewing it. However, Beijing raised concerns after conducting missile tests in the Pacific Ocean earlier this year.
After the launch in September, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the test landing in the South Pacific was an “unwelcome and worrying development”. Tikoduadua joined other leaders from the Pacific region. Kiribati, allied with China – in criticizing and expressing concerns about the test.
“China is a friend of Fiji and we respect each other. It's unfortunate that they launched this missile into our space. Friends don't do things like that with each other, so if they are next I hope they don't launch missiles. Friends don't shoot missiles into each other's neighborhoods,” Tikoduadua said.
“We want to live in a sea of peace. Our space is not meant for nuclear or missile tests.”
The Chinese embassy in Fiji said in a statement that the test was “in line with international law and practice” and “was not directed at any country or target.”
The statement said the test was a “normal military exercise” and that China “supports the efforts of relevant countries to establish a nuclear-weapon-free zone.”
Tikoduadua stressed the importance of major powers respecting the sovereignty of Pacific Islands, saying Fiji had made the decision independently. He added that Fiji was “not trying to please the US or China” and wanted to pursue stability in the region.
“We also support democracy and the values that come with it, and we look forward to working together in the future to consider our common ideals and security interests.”
