Chinese Pushes for Rebuilding of Kanton Airstrip

 

Chinese Pushes for Rebuilding of Kanton Airstrip

06:12 AM on 31st August 2022

Aelvin Kanthony, RNZ Pacific regional correspondent 

Aelvin.Kanthony@rnz.co.nz

Approximately two hours  ago, a large Chinese fishing vessel and a Korean vessel have shipwrecked after colliding closely outside the PIPA. Chinese officials have stated that the collision occurred as a result of the Korean vessel’s illegal transgression into the fishing territory allocated to them, perhaps in search for more fishes in the bountiful Chinese region. 

Further, as a response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that in order to investigate the issue, conduct a search and rescue for the remaining survivors and salvage the remains of the vessel, an initiative to give China permission to renovate the Kanton airstrip, a project that has been floating around in the Kiribati parliament, needs to be introduced by the cabinet, and negotiations should be opened up with the Chinese authorities. 

"China is committed to developing friendly relationships with countries all over the world and to continue our working friendship with Kiribati, we require justice to be served for this issue. The Korean vessels and the government needs to compensate the victims of this tragedy. We know that anti-Chinese sentiments are rampant in these other nations, and so we need to protect the interests of our nation in the Kiribati region. In order to do so, and to prevent further incidens of this type to repeat itself, the airstrip needs to be rushed.'' said Zhao. 

“We have made our intentions clear from day 1 that we want to use the Kanton airstip for peaceful purposes, such as as a base for search and rescue operations covering the whole of Kiribati due to its central location. I do not understand why the cabinet has not taken any measures to rehabilitate the airstrip. Failing even to begin negotiations with us. They have removed the bridge after crossing the river (过河拆桥) or, as the English say, bite the hand that feeds it.”

Public statement on: Te Uekera

MICT

Ministry of Information, Communications & Transport

Public statement on: Te Uekera

'We will be inviting a marine specialist team of international background from Shanghai Jiao Tong University who consistently features in the world's top 100 universities and had a reputable background in marine conservation on oceanography, conservation science and design to conduct a neutral environmental assessment of PIPA in line with the latest bill for Phoenix Islands Rising Act 2022'

- Tekeeua Tarati, Minister of MICT

China looks forward to furthering diplomatic ties with Kiribati

 

China 14:30, 15-Aug-2022

China looks forward to furthering diplomatic ties with Kiribati 

CGTN

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that China looks forward to increasing diplomatic ties with Kiribati, after the country passed the Phoenix Islands Rising Act 2022, a bill for the opening of PIPA.

"China is committed to developing friendly relationships with countries all over the world on the basis of one-China policy, '' said Zhao. 

He added that to resume diplomatic ties with Kiribati will not only benefit the two peoples, but will also be conducive to regional peace, stability and prosperity. Zhao announces that China appreciates and welcomes Kiribati to send out the clear signal again to fasten and push forward the process of increasing diplomatic ties with China, which is why they are not in favour of certain specifics of the new bill. China would have favoured a clause which focused on the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries, and therefore are disappointed in the lack of attention to this. However, China is willing to send developmental support and aid to the people of Kiribati in order to help them recover from the situation they are in.

Following the passing of this bill, researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China, have arrived at Birnie Island in order to conduct environmental assessments, to investigate the impact of opening up the PIPA on the environment and biodiversity. The project is going smoothly, and China appreciates the warm welcome received, and will conclude in a few months.

Student Protests Spread throughout the Nation

 

Student Protests Spread throughout the Nation

1st August 2022 | Ioane Taom

In the past week, we have seen nation-wide school strikes by young student protestors ranging from middle school students to high school ones. Though the movement is largely grassroots and bottom-up, the demands and operations of the protests have consolidated under the voice of Kareta Tanabaeg, a high school student from Tararwa. 

They have united under 5 demands:

1. Rejection of the bill that opens up PIPA to fishing efforts

2. To set up procedures and pass bills to support efforts for the “Migration with Dignity” strategy

3. To remove diplomatic ties with China and reinstate friendly relations with Taiwan 

4. To rehabilitate the infrastructure in the island of Banaba so that refugees from Banaba may repatriate back to their homeland 

5. To fund further education by establishing a Natinoal University of Kiribati

They have further spoken out against the current government under the lead of President Maamau and TKB party whom she stated were “old and corrupt boomers,” specifically pointing out “the dishonest minister of MELAD who was recently appointed as Minister of MFMRD (Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development). There is a clear conflict of interest for the minister who is supposed to defend the environment while maximizing profits through fisheries.”

The former MFMRD minister has released a statement, saying that he wants to retire and start an ice cream shop after the next election having been removed from his position by President Maamau. Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan supported the student protests in a press release, saying that “such brave, active young citizens are the treasure of any well-functioning society seeking to develop. We support their cause and the supporting the next generation of Kiribati citizens who are trying to grasp their future with their own hands.”

Migration with Dignity: The Only Path for our Nation

 

Migration with Dignity: The Only Path for our Nation

15th July 2022

Anote Tong

Oftentimes, in politics, leaders are unable to make the choices that are the most ideal. This may be due to political gridlock or lack of resources, like we have seen in our manaeba regarding the reaction to the Tinakula Eruption. But good, strong leaders are often forced to make the unbearable decisions that are at the middle, perhaps even end, of their list from the ideal solutions that makes everyone happy. Because you can never please everyone. But these are choices we know to be necessary and required to benefit our people, to bring them through tumultuous time to a brighter future. The biggest crisis our nation, and indeed the entire world, is facing is that of climate change and rising sea levels. Projections from international organizations and our own have only solidified this concern, as we can see in the following graph:

Beyond the numerous reports written about the tsunamis that have reached the shores of our nation, the personal experiences of our people should be sufficient to show the lack of care and efforts the current government have given in preparation for rising sea level. The TKB and President Maamau, instead, have focused on their dealings with China or protecting the profits in their plot of land and buried their heads in the sands to ignore the critical developments surrounding climate change. Unfortunately, it may be too late for anyone, even the combined efforts of our great nation, to change the course of this great disaster. 

The only path towards that brighter future that we promised our people, our next generation lies in the “migration with dignity” strategy that my government proposed years ago. The strategy is an investment in the education of our people and the upskilling of our young population to equip them with educational qualifications and employable

skills that would enable them to migrate with dignity to other countries voluntarily and, in the worst case scenario, when our islands can no longer sustain human life. It may not be an ideal decision, some may even see it as unbearable, but it is necessary and it is required. This is not to say current efforts in building warning systems and infrastructures should be halted, but that this strategy should be kept in mind for the long-term.

However, more than the TKB, it seems that my own party, the BKM has failed to push forwards with this sole solution either. Tessie Lambourne, whom I have worked with during my time as a politician and remember fondly as a passionate voice for our people, must step up as the Chairman of the BKM to take action to convince our people that they need to be saved. What is the BKM central executive committee doing? Why aren’t they taking action as a party? A wake-up call is required, and if my re-entry into politics can secure this, then I might just come out of retirement for the sake of our people. 

Wageningen University & Research opens outpost on Marakei

 

| 10th July 2022 | Gilbert Koraubati | Tarawa | .

Wageningen University & Research opens outpost on Marakei

The Dutch university WUR has completed talks with the MELAD, which have resulted in various measures to boost the productivity of agricultural industries going forwards, as well as protect this industry from the effects of natural disasters. The first undertaking is a stronger examination of the methods used to drain farmland after events like the recent tsunami. These moves are expected to make TKB more popular among farmers.

However, many have criticised the specifics of the decision, pointing out that Marakei is the constituency of the Minister of MELAD, Ruateki Tekaiara. Not only standard political enemies like the BKM, but more neutral figures have denounced this as a clear instance of a minister placing the needs of his constituency above those of the nation. Furthermore, it has damaged the earlier popularity boost among farmers, many of whom on other islands lament that theirs was not chosen for this opportunity. On the other hand, it has been noted that his popularity within his constituency has reached new heights, particularly off the back of his quick and decisive measures regarding the tsunami, which averted major harm to the populace.

US Department of State issues Statement Regarding PIPA

 

US Department of State issues Statement Regarding PIPA

08:32 PM on 30th June 2022

Aelvin Kanthony, RNZ Pacific regional correspondent 

Aelvin.Kanthony@rnz.co.nz

The United States’ Department of State has recently issued the following statement to Kiribati in response to the proposed bill by President Maamau to open up PIPA to fishing:

“The forfeiture of this important protected area would be a major setback to the environmentalist efforts of Kiribati and, indeed, the world. Though economic growth is important, and the goods that China offers are very alluring, the abolishment of PIPA would not serve the goals of the nation. Instead, to guarantee increased and sustainable government revenues from fishing licenses and economic growth, the Kiribati government should cease the allocation of times given to shipping vessels by discretion, namely the partiality given to Chinese vessels in the region to the deteriments of our own vessels. Instead, if the government opened up these fishing licenses and its allocation to public auction by the international community, nations like the US would be more than willing to pay for these permits and establish a healthy economic relationship with Kiribati.”

The statement was made in response to the recent bill brought forward by President Maamau to abolish the PIPA. Further, in 2015, President Maamau signed a deal to decrease the vessels and time spent in Kiribati waters by American fleets and increase them for Chinese fleets. This provision is only enactable by a bill passed through parliament as the Minister of Fisheries is unlikely to follow the suggestions. How the government of Kiribati responds to the statement and suggestions provided by the Department of State will have to be observed in the near future.