Comments

Interesting point of view. The issue is being used by Australian politicians for political points scoring. This has created a negative image of Melanesian countries. Solomon Islands is trying to address the real issue of economic security. There needs to be a stable Honiara so Chinese investors or investors from anywhere can operate their businesses and employ Solomon Islanders. PNG has a similar problem. We have a lot of young people graduating from universities and completing their year 12 every year. Many of these young people are looking for employment opportunities. I do not see any Australian or New Zealand retail or wholesale businesses operating in towns and cities around PNG. Coles and Woolworths do not have franchises in PNG, which is a bigger economy compared to other Pacific Island countries. However, we see Chinese retail and wholesale businesses selling Australian and New Zealand products in all economic centers around PNG. For the sake of their citizens and their investments, China will need to work with PNG or Solomon Islands to create a stable environment, which will help foster economic growth and most importantly address the issue of economic security.

You have crystallised a number of crucial aspects of this work, this movement, and how we as outsiders can and can't be helpful. Thank you for articulating it so clearly, Sonia.

Excellent perspective, Terence!

Hi Kien, Thank you for taking the time to make a comment. I think you make a useful point: Western crimes deserve as much scrutiny as China's. I agree. Indeed, I took to the streets of Sydney to protest the invasion of Afghanistan (not technically a crime, but I didn't think it would end well). I took to the streets in Wellington multiple times to protest the invasion of Iraq. And I've protested in Canberra numerous times against Australia's treatment of asylum seekers. However, just because Western countries also commit morally deplorable actions doesn't mean that it is ok for China to do so. And there is ample evidence of what China has done in Tibet, Xinjang and to a lesser extent in Hong Kong. I am ardently opposed to any war between the West and China. And I am in favour of constructive dialogue between the two "sides". (You'll see the most of my blog post is a critique of Australia and NZ's overreaction to the non-base in Solomons). However, crimes against human rights do still need to be called-out regardless of who has committed them. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. Terence

You state: “PNG politics is indeed centred on personalities, but these personalities have often definite positions with respect to natural resources policies.” Response: Sir Julius Chan’s position on natural resource policies was specifically referenced for the purposes of the autonomy agenda. It was the subject of the original commentary, correcting the misconception that Nautilus was the basis for New Ireland’s bid for autonomy, when in fact it is a continuing leveraging rhetoric (together with natural resource law reforms). What can you make for Abel’s position on natural resources? Maybe you can look up the national development blueprint he oversaw (the writing of) when he was Minister for Planning and Monitoring. During his time in the aforementioned department, he oversaw the writing of the STaRs, a development blueprint that envisages economic diversification and green growth (I don’t know if that constitutes what you called “definite positions” on “natural resource policies”). You state: “There is a temptation to use the common phrases about patron client relationships etc. and overlook the crucial issues of PNG politics”. Response: Patron-client relationship is useful in explaining contemporary governance in Melanesia. The same features of patron-client relationships are seen in the New Ireland province. Terence Wood makes informative comparative study of PNG and the Solomon Islands to demonstrate the correlation between the localized support that MPs get from supporters and the detrimental effects this has on governing in the national interest ( read here: The clientelism trap in Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, and its impact on aid policy - Wood - 2018 - Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies - Wiley Online Library). Governance is one of the “crucial issues of PNG politics” and patron-client relationship is one of many useful frameworks in understanding the governance issue in PNG. You state: “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”. Response: Indeed, nobody is denying that. But that was not the subject of the original commentary. Those issues have been covered in greater detail elsewhere by other commentators and more credible observers of PNG politics. The whole Take Back PNG slogan and the associated rhetoric of “Rich Black Christian nation” came out of that period.

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!