Fiji’s defense minister said on Sunday that climate change was the biggest threat to his archipelago and not “a conflict” between powers seeking to strengthen their positions in the Pacific region.
The security forum Dialogue by Shangri Lawhich brought together defense ministers from Asia and around the world in Singapore this weekend, was dominated by tensions between the United States and China in Taiwan.
It came as Beijing was vying with Western powers for influence over the Pacific islands.
Fijian Defense Minister Inia Seruiratu preferred to discuss the threat of climate change in her country, which is regularly hit by hurricanes.
Machine guns, fighter jets, ships … are not our main security concernshe told hundreds of delegates to attend the event.
The biggest threat to our lives is [..] destructive man -made climate change. They threaten our hopes and dreams of prosperityhe said.
The waves are pounding on our doors, the wind is pounding our homes, we are being pounded by this enemy from all sidescontinued the Minister, urging other countries to support Fiji’s efforts to combat climate change.
In September, this Pacific archipelago passed a law declaring a climate emergency and established a legal framework for adopting possible measures to deal with environmental changes.
Other island nations in this region face the same threats [cyclones plus réguliers et puissants et montée des eaux principalement].
Prior to the COP26 international climate conference in Glasgow, held in November 2021, Pacific countries that were on the front line of suffering the consequences of global warming urged rich industrialized countries to do more.
Fiji is among ten countries in the Pacific that last month rejected China’s proposal for a comprehensive security agreement, fearing it could be brought into Beijing orbit.
The failure of this project, which could directly challenge the influence of the United States and its allies in this strategically important region, is a major political setback for Beijing.
As he avoided the topic in his speech, Mr Seruiratu addressed it in the ensuing question-and-answer session.
He said people asked him: everyone comes to Fiji and flirts with you, but when will you get married?
Let me tell you this. The wedding is [..] long term relationship. Relationships should be long -term and based on trust.
The minister also adopted a tone of reconciliation towards Beijing.
China is a major development partner, this is a known fact. And it is also welcomed in the regiondid he declare.
France Media AgencyGerald Fillion
Source: Radio-Canada
