Chinese official visits Kiribati

China’s foreign minister yesterday arrived on the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati, where the future of a vast fishing ground is at stake.

The four-hour visit by Wang Yi was his second stop on an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region.

Kiribati closed its borders this year as it tries to stamp out an outbreak of Covid19. But its government made a rare exception to allow Wang and his 20-strong delegation into the country for face-to-face discussions.

At stake in Kiribati is the future of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, a stretch of ocean the size of California that has been named a Unesco World Heritage site.

In November, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau announced the government planned to end the commercial fishing ban that had been in place since 2015 and begin to sustainably fish the area.

Anna Powles, a senior lecturer in security studies at New Zealand’s Massey University, said she expected there would be some fisheries agreements between China and Kiribati that would come from Wang’s visit.

Powles said China, which already dominates fishing in the region, had offered to upgrade an airport runway and causeway in the Phoenix Islands.

‘‘The worry is that this would essentially obliterate the fish stock,’’ she said. ‘‘That it would severely damage fish stocks that are already under pressure.’’

She said there were also concerns that any kind of base for Chinese commercial fishing fleets in Kiribati could be used as an additional hub for Beijing’s surveillance activities.

Kiribati’s president said Wang would visit his residence for bilateral discussions during the visit, and emphasised the health protocols that were in place.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, right, links arms with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Maamau said in a statement that the Chinese delegation would need to take PCR tests before arriving and stay in a travel bubble while there.

Everybody in Kiribati who came into contact with the visitors would need to quarantine afterward for a week — presumably including himself.

‘‘The high-level state visit is an important milestone for Kiribati-China relations, as it will strengthen and promote partnership and co-operation between our two countries after the resumption of diplomatic ties in 2019,’’ Maamau said.

China says Wang’s trip to the region builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations.

A draft document obtained by the Associated Press shows that Wang is hoping to strike a deal with 10 small Pacific nations during his visit.

The sweeping agreement covers everything from security to fisheries and is seen by at least one Pacific leader as an attempt by Beijing to wrest control of the region.

Wang is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji with other foreign ministers.

China’s Foreign Minister says China has ‘‘no intention at all’’ of building a military base in Solomon Islands.

Wang Yi, who has been in Honiara as part of a tour of Pacific Island states, said the security agreement Beijing sealed last month with the Manasseh Sogavare government was ‘‘above board, with honesty and integrity’’.

A leaked draft of the security agreement contains a provision that would allow Chinese naval deployments to the Solomons.

At a news conference in Honiara following his meeting with the Solomons foreign minister Jeremiah Manele, Wang said the agreement has not been imposed on anyone, nor is it targeted at any third party.

Wang also said China respected existing international relationships with Pacific countries and would explore joining three-way partnerships with them.

Australia’s former government, toppled in May 21 elections, had said that any move to create a Chinese military base would amount to crossing a ‘‘red line’’ without specifying the consequences.

New Zealand and the United States have also expressed concern about the security arrangement between China and Honiara.

But Wang countered: ‘‘China’s co-operation with Pacific island countries does not target any country and should not be interfered or disrupted by any other country.’’

He also took a swipe at previous Australian governments which described the Pacific Islands as being in the country’s ‘‘backyard’’.

‘‘They are not the backyard of

anyone. All the Pacific island countries are entitled to make their own choice instead of being just mere followers of others,’’ Wang said. ‘‘Any smears and attacks on the normal security co-operation between China and Solomon Islands are not above the board and any such disruption will not get anywhere.’’

Wang appeared to extend an olive branch to other Pacific powers, though, saying China respected existing international relationships with Pacific Island countries and would explore joining three-way partnerships with them.

The security pact helps the Solomon Islands government to safeguard stability and long term security, he said. –