The political framework of the Asia-Pacific region is built on collaborations, alliances, and polarizations. Indeed, the containment policy implemented by the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the context of their political experiences has added a regional perspective to the US-China competition.
In this context, it can be said that the US applied this strategy against the Soviet Union and saw its advantages. Thus, it can be argued that Australia is one of the prominent states in line with this strategy intended to be implemented against Beijing in the current conjuncture. Although Australia is located in the East, it is a Western state in terms of its adopted political perspective.
Furthermore, it can be argued that Canberra is an important ally of Washington and the West. Australia is one of the two unchanged members, along with the US, in the ANZUS Treaty[1] established in 1951 between the US, Australia, and New Zealand. Additionally, Australia is part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD)[2] formed in 2007 through collaboration between the US, Japan, India, and Australia, as well as the AUKUS Pact,[3] established in cooperation between the US, United Kingdom, and Australia. It can be said that all three collaborations are alliances formed within the framework of Western values in the Asia-Pacific region.
In addition to all of this, Australia is also a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.[4] Certainly, this also adds a Western perspective to the state. All of these mentioned circumstances contribute to Australia playing an important role and holding a critical position in the regional scope of the global competition between the US, the West, and China. Ultimately, this situation brings Canberra and Beijing face to face in terms of geopolitics, geo-economics, and geostrategy.
Bu bağlamda her ne kadar 2022 senesinin Mayıs ayında Avustralya’da Anthony Albanese önderliğindeki İşçi Partisi Hükümeti’nin kurulması ve Albanese’nin Avustralya Başbakanı olmasıyla[5] Pekin-Kanberra hattındaki ilişkilerde yumuşama ibareleri gözlemlense de bölgenin mevcut konjonktürü, belli başlı diyalog geliştirme çabaları dışında iki aktörü karşı kutuplarda konumlandırmaktadır. Bu noktada Çin’in Pasifik Adaları Özel Temsilcisi Qian Bo’nun Avustralya’yı “Soğuk Savaş mentalitesine” sahip olmakla suçlaması[6] dikkat çekicidir.
Indeed, Qian claimed that relations between China and Fiji have been targeted by Australia, the United States and New Zealand, undermining security-based cooperation between Beijing and Suva.[7] In this context, it is worth remembering that Fiji and New Zealand are also included in the Commonwealth of Nations.[8]
Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, took office in December 2022 after the 15-year tenure of the Frank Bainimarama Government. Upon assuming office, Rabuka pledged to revoke the Police Cooperation Agreement signed with China in 2011 during Bainimarama’s administration. Rabuka announced that Chinese state security personnel would no longer be allowed to work in Fiji, stating, “Our democracy and justice system are different, and we will return to cooperation with countries that have similar systems to ours.” [9]
Furthermore, the relations between Beijing and Suva are marked by a tense framework due to Rabuka reversing a previous decision to downgrade Taiwan’s diplomatic mission in Fiji, allowing the mission to use the name “Republic of China” instead of Taiwan, and canceling a planned meeting with Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu citing family reasons.[10]
Qian, on the other hand, blames the US, New Zealand, and especially Australia for Fiji’s attitude, and states that Beijing’s goal in these relations is not to undermine Suva’s relations with other states. In fact, Qian made the following statements:[11]
“We are not targeting the US. We are also not targeting our relations with Australia and New Zealand. Therefore, other states should not target our relations either. We have made statements regarding the Police Cooperation Agreement with Fiji. Similarly, the US also has police cooperation in the region. Australia and New Zealand also have people working in regional headquarters. Australia and New Zealand are increasing geopolitical tensions in the region. These states still have a Cold War mentality.”
On the other hand, it should be noted that Fiji does not recognize Taiwan and is the first Pacific island country to establish official relations with China. However, Fiji’s inclusion in the Commonwealth of Nations also indicates a contrasting position with Beijing.
Furthermore, the regional context of the Asia-Pacific forces states to choose sides and align themselves with a pole. In particular, as mentioned above, Australia, as well as New Zealand, another member of ANZUS and the Commonwealth of Nations, are among the most important allies of the US in the region. It can be argued that the relationships of such states with Fiji negatively affect the dialogue between Suva and Beijing.
Indeed, there is a positive dialogue between Australia and New Zealand and Fiji. The Canberra and Wellington administrations have pressured Bainimarama to return to civilian rule instead of military rule.[12] Although Bainimarama has rejected these pressures, it can be said that Rabuka will attach importance to the alliance of Australia and New Zealand.
In this regard, Hideyuki Shiozawa, a senior program officer in the Sasakawa Peace Foundation’s Pacific Island countries program, stated that Rabuka is attempting to reverse the situation for Fiji and could strengthen ties with Australia and New Zealand by revoking the Police Cooperation Agreement. Meg Keen, the Director of the Pacific Islands Program at the Australia-based Lowy Institute, mentioned that it makes sense to work with longstanding security partners for security interventions. She also emphasized that Suva has been closely working with Canberra and Wellington for decades and that Fiji should now focus on intensifying partnerships in areas with the highest return and compatibility.[13] As a matter of fact, all these evaluations prove the influence of Australia and New Zealand on Fiji.
As a result, security equations in the Asia-Pacific region are becoming increasingly fragile, and geopolitical polarization is reaching its maximum level. This puts all states, big and small, in the region as part of the polarization and competition. As a result, actors are forced to take sides. Indeed, this aspect indicates the influential role and significant influence of states like Australia, which have established strong alliance relationships with the West and the US, on other actors in the region.
[1] “The United States and Australia: A Vital Partnership fot he Indo-Pacific Region and the World”, U.S. Department of State, https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-and-australia-a-vital-partnership-for-the-indo-pacific-region-and-the-world/, Date of Accession: 08.05.2023).
[2] “No Plans to Add New members to Quad Grouping Now: White House, The Times of India, https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/no-plans-to-add-new-members-to-quad-grouping-now-white-house/articleshow/99924649.cms?from=mdr, (Date of Accession: 08.05.2023).
[3] “AUKUS Deal: United States, United Kingdom and Australia Agree on Nuclear Submarine Project”, British Broadcasting News, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64945819, (Date of Accession: 08.05.2023).
[4] “Member Countries”, The Commonwealth, https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[5] “Australian Voters Deliver Strong Message on Climate, Ending Conservative Government’s 9-Year Rule” Cable News Network, https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/21/australia/australia-election-results-morrison-albanese-intl-hnk/index.html, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[6] “Australia Accused of Udnermining Fiji-China Relationship, Amid Uncertainity over Police Agreement”, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-08/china-accuses-australia-of-sabotaging-fiji-relationship/102317374, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[7] “China Accuses Australia of Trying to SAbotage its Relationships in Pacific Region”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/09/china-accuses-australia-of-trying-to-sabotage-its-relationships-in-pacific-region, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[8] “Member Countries”, The Commonwealth, https://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[9] “China Accuses Australia of Trying to SAbotage its Relationships in Pacific Region”, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/09/china-accuses-australia-of-trying-to-sabotage-its-relationships-in-pacific-region, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] “Fiji Pivoting Back to ‘Well-Established’ Partners Australia and New Zealand by Axing China Security Deal”, Soutch China Morning Post, https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3208767/fiji-pivoting-back-well-established-partners-australia-and-new-zealand-axing-china-security-deal, (Date of Accession: 09.05.2023).
[13] Ibid.
