Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has urged all Pacific Island nations to establish a fair understanding with China. Speaking to the media in Tonga, he emphasized the need to eliminate fear in the region.
Rabuka stated that a peaceful area is one free of fear, where foreign relations are conducted without disrupting regional cooperation relating to territories and powers. He noted that China recognizes the needs of the Pacific region and respects its sovereignty.
During his recent visit to China, Rabuka reflected on how people in the Pacific have been living in fear and stressed the importance of better understanding China, similar to the understanding many have of America due to their longstanding relationship.
“I have come back from China and perhaps we have been living under fear for so long,” he remarked, adding, “We need to understand China. We understand America better because we’ve had a close association for longer. China has only recently opened up, and we need to engage with them.”
When asked about China’s influence in the Pacific, Rabuka suggested that China’s strategic importance in the region is significant both for itself and for the international community. Currently, he is in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, for the 53rd Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting that is set to commence today.