Dear Editor,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to comment on the above news article that was featured on Vanuatu Daily Post issue no.7363. I would like to thank the Vanuatu Government Public Relations Officer for clarifying that, China did not have any influence on the Vanuatu-Australia Nakamal Agreement as alluded by the Australia media. I would like to thank our Prime Minister Hon. Jotham Napat and the current Government caucus for thoroughly scrutinising the terms of this Agreement. Thank you for taking the bold step to defending our national sovereignty. This is the kind of political leadership we expect to see from our national leaders.
I would like to raise a few points to the attention of the Government and all of us, citizens of this Republic. There are two statements frequently raised by the Australia Politicians and their media. The phrase that, Vanuatu and the Pacific is Australia’s backyard, and the phrase that, Australia should be the partner of choice in security, infrastructure and economic development in Vanuatu and the Pacific.
As a Ni-Vanuatu and indigenous Pacific Islander, I am offended by sentiments echoed by the Australian Politicians that, we are Australia’s backyard. How on earth can you claim to own the Pacific as your backyard, when we exist as a sovereign State under the United Nations Charter? Our ancestors have occupied Pacifica before any European explorers have reached Pacific. Our maritime boundaries are governed by the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Who gave the Australians, the right to interfere and dictate in the internal affairs of Vanuatu and Pacific Island nations? The territorial integrity of sovereign Pacific Islands States and Vanuatu needs to be respected. International law under the United Nations Charter has granted us the right to self-determination.
It is not right for Australia to demand that, Australia will be the exclusive partner of choice for security, infrastructure and economic development in Vanuatu. This is a neo-colonialist attitude. The people of Vanuatu and their Government have a fundament right to exercise their act of sovereign choice in deciding their destiny. Such demand by the Australian government is a violation of the principle of self-determination under international law of the United Nations Charter.
Let it be known that Australia is a member of the ANZUS alliance, a trilateral security treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the US. Article III of the ANZUS Treaty states that the allies will consult together whenever in the opinion of any of them the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the Parties is threatened in the Pacific. My question is, did ANZUS alliance consult any Pacific Island State when they adopted this security Treaty? If a sovereign Pacific Island State like Vanuatu entered a bilateral and diplomatic relations with China, under what terms and conditions did Vanuatu and China breached when both were not a party to the ANZUS alliance? Vanuatu’s relationship with China is governed by the international law of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
We should not allow ourselves to enter a security treaty that would compromise our foreign policy and engaged in a security deal that would wage conflict with one of our valuable development partner China. We should always maintain a neutral pacifist attitude in the management of our international relations.
The burning question is why Australia is so concerned about the presence of China in Vanuatu and the Pacific when, China is Australia’s largest and most important trading partner. It doesn’t make sense when Australia benefits from Chinese markets and then tries to deter Vanuatu and other Island States from engaging with China.
Singling out Australia as the only exclusive partner in security and major infrastructure and economic development would not be viable and will create setbacks in the future. There ought to be some flexibility to have multiple partners to engage within the security space and development aspirations of Vanuatu. A classic example can be seen on the construction of the current Parliament complex. When our former leaders approach the Australians and the commonwealth nations to build our new Parliament complex, they were reluctant to provide aid. But when our leaders approach China, the Chinese government was willing to provide its assistance. China was one of the countries that vote for Vanuatu to gain its independence at the United Nation while Australia voted abstained.
Our diplomatic relationships with all our development partners must respect our territorial integrity and the right to self-determination under international law. In the event of tense geopolitical pressures within the internal affairs of Vanuatu, it is better for the government of the Republic of Vanuatu to pursue legal proceedings with the International Court of Justice and defend the interest of the Ni-Vanuatu people and their government as a sovereign State in the Pacific Ocean.
Lastly, Our Prime Minister together with other Pacific Island leaders have signed the commitment to the Ocean of Peace declaration at the recent PIFs 54 meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Peace must be observed according to the indigenous Pacifica narration of peace that reflects the true peaceful relationship and harmony between the people and their natural environment as reflected in the indigenous language, custom, culture, and traditions of Pacifica.
Indigenous Human Rights Activist & Freedom Fighter
