Fiji raises stake in South Pacific geopolitics

As Fiji marks its Golden Jubilee of independence (obtained on October 10, 1970) the country is poised to revisit its complicated past and hopes to reopen new ways to deal with the challenges ahead and push its geopolitical stakes further.

To start in tough times like the present, Fiji can stand tall for effectively dealing with the issues related to Covid-19, whereas other countries are still struggling to deal with the pandemic.

Fiji has also helped other nations in the South Pacific to deal with the Virus more effectively.

India’s help with skills transfer

On the other hand, Fiji lacks skilled labour for its economic advancement especially in areas like hospitality, medicine and information technology. India is far advanced in terms of technology and will help facilitate in that sector in Fiji in the ensuing years.

India is currently helping Fiji through its diplomatic outreach which will further be amplified as it starts promoting its economic activities.

These will be topped by technological help from New Delhi. 

India will reassess the scope of the diplomatic missions in the South Pacific region and promote developmental activities there.

Its Look East policy will be extended to cover the South Pacific in general and Fiji in particular to effectively deal with China’s increased interest in the region.

Growing Chinese influence

After Fiji was expelled from the Pacific Islands Forum, China encouraged it to be an active participant in the Melanesian Spearhead Group and even provided funds for the establishment of its Secretariat.

New Zealand is likely to support Fiji’s entry to the Polynesian Spearhead Group, a regional multilateral Forum for Polynesians.

It is expected that in the upcoming years, Fiji will be what Singapore became in the South East Asia.

Fiji will act as a connecting point between the Australasian and the South American countries.

This will be done during the leadership of Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, the signs of which will be felt during its 50^th anniversary of Independence.

Improving connectivity

Fiji which is currently connected with Samoa Submarine Cable Company but would like to be a part of Manatua, One Polynesia Cable. This would improve its connectivity,

Fiji has significant strategic location in its favour and hence is the hub of Southwestern Pacific  transhipment routes, which include a waystation for the Southern Cross fibre optic cable, connecting the US with Australia and New Zealand as well as financial and telecommunications providers from around the Pacific basin and further.

If Fiji has to follow the Singapore lead, it must allow necessary foreign talent to compensate necessary non-traditional value-added productive sectors.

The Singapore Model

The country can pursue a Singapore-style development model by using immigration policy and local labour market demographics to good effect. The resultant economic growth will help heal socially the ethnic differences, enabling better prosperity for the community. 

With its culturally rich past but a fragile near past, Fiji will look for bright spot in the future.

It can be argued that despite some tough challenges, the country has come a long way in promoting itself as a destination in the South Pacific.  

Balaji Chandramohan is our Correspondent based in New Delhi. He evinces great interest on Defence, Pacific Island and related matters.

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