Comments

I think you have totally misread Xi Jinping. He is no longer an instruméntale rational actor wishing to increase China’s GDP. Like many authoritarian leaders he want’s to make China ‘great’, which means empire. As with Putin, he considers accommodating behaviour weakness, while he respects and responds to tough rhetoric. If the EU and USA had been robust toward Putin, much earlier, he would never have invaded Ukraine. The same applies to Xi, I am afraid.

I agree with the above comment

I'm so glad to see your comment. Few westerners can see the truth and consider it rational.

As a Papua New Guinean student, I've seen that corruption has eating Papua New Guinea. I think to overcome corruption, we should enforced law and order and stick to the Papua New Guinea Goals.

I suspect whatever “odious” things you think China has done reflects your own prior biases and doesn’t stand up to objective scrutiny. There is more objective evidence of Australian misbehaviour (Afghan war crimes, boat refugees, etc). By uncritically expressing prejudice, you are inadvertently helping legitimise a future war with China. Think about it. Are your beliefs about China really based on “peer reviewed evidence” of the quality that you would expect in a scientific claim? Much more is at stake here than some claim in academic literature.

The study of PNG politics needs more sharp and committed debate. I welcome therefore Patrick’s reply. Patrick misses however the issue at stake, PNG politics is indeed centred on personalities, but these personalities have often definite positions with respect to natural resources policies. That is not only the case with father and son Chan, but also Kua, Namah, Abel are important examples in this respect. Abel especially needs more attention. There is a temptation to use the common phrases about patron client relationships etc. and overlook the crucial issues of PNG politics. Natural resources policy and the financial situation of the country were core issues when Marape’s succeeded O’Neill and this was the case as well during the failed vote of no confidence led by Pruaitch. It may not be manifest but it will certainly be latent in the coming elections. My suggestion is not that you write more, but that you write about different matters as that gives a deeper understanding of PNG politics. You appear for example to be very well informed with respect to Chan's position on regional autonomy. Apologise of course for factual errors.

*correction ... 'its sei bele ba servisu iha Europa.' Malae nia Tetun la dun mos!

I am saddened at your biased claims of Russian "imperialism" when the provocation by NATO and the 2014 colour revolution in Ukraine led to the current events. Ukraine is still a state of the "USSR" and therefore part of the Russian Federation. Germany may have lost the wars, yet the NAZI influence is still alive and well in the Ukraine. Why are we (Western Governments) sending weapons and money to fund overt Nazi military units in the Armed Forces of Ukraine? As more details emerge of bioweapons designed to target "slavic" genes emerge from the Ukraine BSL-4 biolabs, the UN, NATO and the "West" will be seen for what they are! Bear baiting is an illegal sport...

A great literature. Totally agree as the response to the COVID -19 pandemic has highlighted the wide gap in access to technology that is becoming increasingly important in today's education, Fiji is stuck in a teaching system and is ill-equipped to prepare. Nevertheless the little we do is a step forward. I would like take this opportunity to show my appreciation as what as the head of educational body of TISI Sangam, you continue to embark on the new dynamics of sustainable educated Fiji. Thanks for the Sangam portal.

Thanks Agnes, good luck. The PLS and the SWP are both good options, but unfortunately recruitment can sometimes be a bit slow and confusing. If you really want to work overseas I would recommend you apply for both, but also see if you can get a Portuguese passport - that way, if you miss out you will have the option of working in Europe. Obrigadu Agnes, sorti diak ba ita. PLS no SWP, sira rua programa diak, maibei infelizemente dala ruma prosesu recruitamentu neneik no konfusaun. Se ita hakarak servisu iha rai liur hau rekomenda ita hato'o aplika ba programa rua hirak ne'e maibei mos aplika ba passporte Portuguese. Hanesan ne'e se sira la foti ita boot atu ba Australia ho SWP ka PLS ita sei presiza ba servisu iha Europa.

Dear all, Thank you for your support to help Timorese young people to work abroad, especially in Australia. I am also very interesting in the SWP program and PLS program, I hope to get opportunity in the program this year.

You state: “Party affiliation as well as electoral behaviour have proven to be whimsical. The crux of PNG politics is coalition formation that takes place after the elections”. Response: A long established fact about PNG politics, especially party politics, is that parties are built around the personality of the party leader. That is the point I made about the longevity of Sir Julius Chan in politics, his role as the founder of the People’s Progress Party, and how since he came back into politics in 2007, successfully associated the PPP brand with his leadership in New Ireland province specifically. The point in the commentary is that New Ireland province, in the mind of its Governor is a stronghold of PPP. It explains why two non-PPP MPs (National Alliance) in the Open Electorates seem to have a hard time aligning their visions to that of the Governor Sir Julius Chan (who is PPP). The divisions are not ideological as you would expect from established democracies, but partly associated with personalities of the MPs and the patron-clientalist phenomenon that everybody is researching about in Melanesian political systems. The commentary focuses less on the national-level party coalition formations and party identity at the national level, but the differences of personalities in the province (in this case the New Ireland province). In New Ireland province, it is a very divisive. If you voted for the two NA MPs in the last election, your current political affiliation is with those two MPs. The same with the Governor. You state: “……seem to be made merely on the basis of personal opportunism, but there are important policy issues involved. The management of natural resources and the financial position of PNG”. Response: Of course. Three consecutive terms of Parliament (2007-2012; 2012-2017; 2017-2022), a PPP members has held the Mining fort polio. The PPP is going into the 2022 General Elections with the agenda of changing the resource laws of this country (see here: PPP pushes for changes in resources laws - Post Courier). It says a lot about the influence and personality of the party leader. The party leader is the Governor of a province where two mining projects are located and his long history of dealings/negotiations with the national government in securing the benefits of such projects frame his advocacy role, now reflected in his party’s campaign platform. Again, the personality and influence of the party leader! You state: “Julius Chan pleaded for autonomy of Eastern Britain” Response: Correction. Sir Julius Chan has been Governor of New Ireland, since 2007) not East New Britain. You state: “Julius Chan pleaded for autonomy of Eastern Britain when the Nautilus deep sea project near the island was on the cards. This interest has disappeared since the demise of Nautilus”. Response: Correction. Nautilus only began making news headlines with the Solwara One project around the 2011-2012 period. The idea of provincial autonomy predated the Solwara One (Nautilus) project. When Sir Julius Chan came back into politics in 2007, he oversaw the creation of what is known as the Malagan Declaration. That has been the blueprint he has been touting as the basis for the province’s bid for autonomy (read here: New Ireland is already autonomous: Chan | Loop PNG). The point I made in the original commentary was that autonomy (together with reforms to the natural resource laws) is used as a leverage in Sir Julius Chan’s dealings with the national government over mining benefits, in the case of Lihir for example (read here: New Ireland push for autonomy within PNG over Lihir youth | RNZ News). It is a useful leveraging rhetoric if you are pushing for greater control of the benefits from projects within your provincial boundaries, and that continues. Nautilus did not change that. You state: “That is a position close to Kua’s, the present minister of mines”. Response: Correction. Hon. Kerenga Kua is Minister for Petroleum You state: “Watching PNG politics could benefit from more attention to issues and policies involved. Words have consequences and one needs to listen to what politicians say” Response: All of responses I have given above are issues generated from my original commentary and understanding of New Ireland politics not national-level politics. Given the word limitations of Devpolicy blog commentaries we cannot always discuss everything in one short blog piece. The other issues you raised will be dealt with at a later time.