Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday said that a police exchange agreement with China was under review as his government considers whether to cancel the deal outright.
China and Fiji signed deal in 2011 enabling police officers from the Pacific nation to undergo training in China.
It also saw Chinese officers deployed to Fiji.
Photo: AFP
However, since being elected six months ago, Rabuka’s coalition government has shown more skepticism about close ties with Beijing.
In January, he told local media that he saw “no need” for the police agreement with China to continue, but no firm decision was taken.
During a state visit to New Zealand yesterday, he indicated that the agreement was on ice as deliberations continued.
“When we came in [to office], the thing I said was if our values and our systems differ, what cooperation can we get from them [China]?” he told reporters in Wellington. “We need to look at that again before we decide on whether we go backward or continue the way we have had in the past — cooperating with those that have similar democratic values and systems of legislation, law enforcement and so on.”
Rabuka said that New Zealand and Fiji were poised to sign a defense agreement next week aimed at increasing cooperation between their military forces.
“The agreement will allow defense officials to undertake engagement in different areas including capacity building and upskilling, exposure to new technologies and technical support, among others,” he said.
He said there has been a lot of geopolitical focus on the region, but that Pacific countries only worry about militarization “when diplomacy and common neighborly discussions fail.”
Fiji expanded its policing agreement with China in 2013 to include some military cooperation, but Rabuka did not directly address that arrangement.
China has previously said the security agreements have benefited Fiji and it hopes to continue the collaboration.
Additional reporting by AP
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