Bhubaneswar: Eight million population spread over 14-island nations in the south Pacific Ocean, the Pacific Islands, have been of limited strategic significance to the major global powers.
However, when the focus zoomed on Asia in the 21st century, the key role of Pacific Islands has received the flashlight.
The flashlight on the pacific Islands has been for the following reason as described by United States Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear.
“Five trillion dollars of commerce rides on the sea lanes of the Asia-Pacific each year, and [the] people [of the Pacific Islands] sit right in the middle of it,” he highlighted.
Like the rest of global powers, the focus of Indian establishment has not been weighty enough, which is evidenced by the fact that no Prime Minister has visited Fiji, after 1981 visit by the then PM Indira Gandhi.
India and Fiji are separated by 4000 miles and two oceans. For which, links with region has been of limited nature.
WHY FIJI IMPORTANT FOR INDIA?
Fiji is island nation with over 8.5lakh population, of which 40% are of Indian origin. In 1987, the country witnessed a coup (also a revolt against the Fiji-Indian’s dominance in Fiji Parliament).
India immediately imposed trade sanctions and scaled back its diplomatic ties with the island nation. Also, India closed its High Commission in Suva, following this coup.
India’s competing power China, in order to gain access to American controlled Pacific Ocean, pushed its diplomacy harder, when the island nation was put against sanctions for Military coup.
As per strategic analyst C R Rajamohan:
“With their vast exclusive economic zones, the Pacific Islands occupy millions of square km of the ocean space and straddle vital sea lines of communication. Some of them provide ideal vantage points for military power projection.” He then highlighted:
“They are also important locations for gathering signal intelligence and monitoring outer space activity. Guam, for example, is now critical for the maintenance of American forward military presence in the Pacific. The United States also tests many of its star wars systems in the littoral.”
WHY CHINA EYES THE PACIFIC ISLANDS?
As per strategic analyst CR Rajamohan:
“For China, which seeks to expand its own strategic influence in the Pacific, limit American military primacy in the region, and gain access to the rich natural resources of the littoral, the Pacific Islands have become an important priority.”
THAW BACK
The country saw another coup in 2006. Frank Bainimarama came to power.
India displayed its muscular policy in Fiji to safeguard the Diaspora interests. When Frank Bainimarama after coming into power decided to mend forces with Indian community living there, Indian government recognized the Bainimarama govt.
THE TURNAROUND
In 2013 Fiji elections, Bainimarama, who took the power earlier in a coup, shed his military uniform and fought the elections democratically to win
With China vigorously following its ‘Look Pacific’ policy, and Fiji, too, firmly implementing its ‘Look North’ policy, especially favouring China, India, after Narendra Modi govt was sworn in 2014, PM Modi decided to visit Fiji – first Indian PM visit after 1981.
The PM 2014 visit, coincidentally, coincided with Chinese President Xi Zinping’s visit to the pacific island nations later.
During the PM Modi’s visit, he announced a number of steps to boost India’s relationship with Suva, including expansion of India’s development partnership with Fiji, improving air links and announcing visa on arrival for citizens of Fiji.
During the 2014 visit, PM Modi thanked Fiji for the following:
“I want to convey a special word of gratitude from the people for hosting Indian scientists for tracking India's Mars mission earlier this year. Together we made history," and the PM added that space cooperation a major theme of his vision for stronger partnership with Fiji and the 16-member Pacific Islands forum.
WHY FIJI WANTS INDIA?
In the words of strategic analyst CR Rajamohan,
“Fiji and the other islands are eager for a strong Indian presence in the littoral. They know that India cannot match the Chinese, dollar to dollar, in providing economic assistance. The islanders, however, would like to have some insurance against over- dependence on Chinese assistance. India’s presence offers the prospect of greater regional balance in the South Pacific and offers more economic and political choices for the island states.”
INDIAN ROLE IN FIJI
During the 2023 visitof MEA S Jaishankar, India signed the following:
- Visa Waiver Agreement was signed between India and Fiji on 16 February 2023.
- Launched the Solarisation of the Pacific Head of State Residences at the State House
- Inaugurated Girmit Gallery funded by GOI.
Under PM Modi’s vision plan, India formed India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit. Till 2023, 3 such summits were held.
- In the 3rd FIPIC Summit at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 22 May 2023, hosted by PM Narendra Modi and Papua New Guinea PM, James Marape.
- Fijian delegation led by PM Sitiveni Rabuka attended the Summit.
- PM Modi announced a 12-step action plan for the 14 Pacific Island Countries including Fiji.
- On behalf of the Fijian President, Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, PM Rabuka bestowed Prime Minister Modi with the highest honor of the Republic of Fiji – the Companion of the Order of Fiji (CF).
WHY RABUKA CALLED PM MODI ‘BOSS SAHAB’?
PM Modi’s hectic diplomacy in the pacific, along with India’s muscular policy towards safeguarding the Diaspora interests, and the global position PM Modi holds now, are the key factors behind the Fijian PM Rabuka callingPM Modi ‘Boss Sahab’.
His statement below is evident. (see the image)
