How the West is Losing the South Pacific
On October 3, the East-West Center hosted a conversation with Cleo Paskal, an Associate Fellow in the Energy, Environment and Resources department of Chatham House. Ms. Paskal talked about the developing geopolitical situation in the South Pacific. While the region has historically been dominated by the United Kingdom, and Australia and New Zealand more recently, their influence is waning, she noted.
Ms. Paskal argued that negative coverage of the South Pacific and its inhabitants by both Australia and New Zealand media has created a backlash against the two countries. This has created a window for other countries to come in, including China and the UAE. Ms. Paskel explained that China’s involvement in the region has frequently come in the form of aid projects for developing infrastructure, specifically roads. Alternatively, the UAE aided the South Pacific in its attempt to develop alternative energies. In turn, the South Pacific countries voted to put the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
Ms. Paskal explained that the Chinese infrastructure projects often have a major problem, the Chinese use imported workers to complete the projects. The massive influx of foreign works can be destabilizing, she claimed. She further claimed that the UAE does not have the same level of resources as China, Japan, Europe, or the US, meaning that the UAE cannot solely provide the South Pacific with what it needs. She concluded that the West can regain its influence in the region, but only if it recognizes and corrects its mistakes.
