{"id":2128,"date":"2023-09-10T23:26:04","date_gmt":"2023-09-10T23:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcc.org.fj\/?p=2128"},"modified":"2023-09-10T23:39:35","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T23:39:35","slug":"pcc-gs-warns-pacific-household-to-be-wary-of-indo-pacific-tug-of-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcc.org.fj\/fr\/2023\/09\/10\/pcc-gs-warns-pacific-household-to-be-wary-of-indo-pacific-tug-of-war\/","title":{"rendered":"PCC GS Warns Pacific Household to be Wary of “Indo-Pacific Tug-Of-War”"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Indo-Pacific tug-of-war has already begun to fray the mat of our Pasifika Household, warns Pacific Conference of Churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the Synod of the Etaretia Porotetani Maohi (Maohi Protestant Church) on Moorea, Ma\u2019ohi Nui (French Polynesia) last week, PCC General Secretary called churches to be vigilant of the use of terms such as \u201cregional security\u201d as an excuse for geo-political powerplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe rhetoric, the talk by the militarised and colonial and neo-colonial countries around the Indo-Pacific Strategy, around Climate Change and even the Blue Pacific is a way of using security to control our region and to gain support from so-called democratic countries to shut down processes of decolonisation \u2013 of self-determination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He cited the late inclusion of \u201cPeace and Security\u201d as a thematic area for the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent as one example, and most recently statements by French President Macron of increasing French militarization in Kanaky (New Caledonia) and warning that independence could mean a “Chinese naval base tomorrow”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis year, the promotion of fear of an \u201cenemy country\u201d has been used to say that Kanaky and Maohi must remain part of France for the security of the whole region \u2013 as they renew military alliances using the bribe of funding for development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe pressure on Pacific Island countries to choose sides in this \u201cnew cold war\u201d is beginning to unravel the cords that bind our regional, sub-regional and national political and social structures. For local communities, the concern is not geopolitics but improvement of their wellbeing  through better healthcare, infrastructure development, education and employment opportunities across their islands and highlands.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe see more pieces of silver being given out in the name of Climate Change Adaptation \u2013 when they know what we really need is Climate Justice, probably because they know that they cannot talk about Climate Justice without talking about Nuclear Justice. These are intergenerational issues which means Pacific communities have long memories that outlast changing foreign policies. There is talk of forgiveness but no admission of guilt by colonisers. There can be no forgiveness by oppressed people unless there is an honest admission of injustice and a meaningful commitment to restoration and restitution by the oppressor.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENDS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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