New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre Kōmaru Kura

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China and the Pacific: The View from Oceania

Date: 25 - 27 February 2015

Venue: Fale, National University of Samoa, Apia, Samoa

Co-organised by : New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, National University of Samoa, Centre for Oceania Studies, Sun Yat-sen University

In recent years, China has become an important economic and diplomatic partner to countries in the Pacific. Trade, investment, aid and diplomatic activity between China and the Pacific have increased substantially. These changes follow a new focus on regional diplomacy introduced under the presidency of Hu Jintao, a trend that has continued under President Xi Jinping who visited the region in November 2014. China’s interests in the South Pacific are not new, as the region has been a focus for Chinese migration since the nineteenth century. More recently, China has been concerned to establish in the region its position as a major power and to wield influence accordingly. It resisted a Taiwanese effort to attract diplomatic followers among Pacific Island states and competition effectively ended in 2008 following a diplomatic truce between Beijing and Taipei. And in recent years China has developed significant interest in the resources of the region: land-based, including minerals and timber, and marine, including fisheries and, potentially, seabed minerals.

Increased diplomatic and economic engagement has led to debate about China's long-term interests and activities, including how Chinese activities impact the economic growth and social development of Pacific Island states as well as the role of traditional partners in the region. Development issues in individual countries are likely to continue to be vitally important. How China’s approach to development cooperation fits in with, or is distinct from that of traditional donors in the region is a matter of some discussion. The joint project in the Cook Islands is a first, but to what extent is it, or do Pacific governments want it to be a model for future projects? Overall, there are questions about the long-term implications for the region of China’s re-emergence as not just a regional but also a global power, and the accommodations which this may require of other countries in, and involved in, the region. China has significant interest in the land-based and marine resources of the regions and has increased the number of aid projects it undertakes there. this has created both opportunities and challenges for Pacific Island states to manage.

These developments have also led to discussion as to whether Beijing’s expanded political and economic presence in the South Pacific will lead to greater cooperation or competition between China and the more established actors in the region, including Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Japan. Both China and the United States have increased their role both bilaterally and regionally, and Australia and New Zealand have had to adjust their longstanding Pacific diplomacy.

Has this growing Chinese political and economic presence led to a more positive environment for Pacific nations, and does it provide an opportunity for all major international actors to work together with Pacific nations to support their economic development? The security environment of the region is currently benign: will this be affected by these new developments?

This conference takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining Pacific Island perspectives on China’s evolving relations with countries in the Pacific region, primarily Polynesia and Melanesia.

Key speakers

Guest speakers

  • Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa
  • H. E. Mme Li Yanduan, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Apia

Speakers and chairs

(in order of Appearance)

  • Fui Le’apai Tu’ua ‘Ilaoa Professor Asofou So’o
  • Mr Tony Browne
  • Mr Michael Powles
  • Leasiolagi Professor Malama Meleisea
  • Dame Meg Taylor
  • Associate Professor Paul D’Arcy
  • Professor LIU Shusen
  • Mrs Fekita Utoikamanu
  • Professor BO Zhiyue
  • Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Leung Wai
  • Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka
  • Associate Professor YU Changsen
  • Professor Terence Wesley-Smith
  • Dr Jim Rolfe
  • Professor Brian Moloughney
  • Associate Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa
  • Dr Iati Iati
  • Mr Pesi Fonua
  • Professor Jenny Dixon
  • Dr Graeme Smith
  • Dr Rebecca Bogiri
  • Associate Professor WANG Xuedong
  • Professor John Overton
  • Dr Philippa Brant
  • Dr Biman Prasad
  • Ms Dulciana Somare-Brash
  • Letuimanu'asina Dr Emma Kruse Va'ai
  • Mrs Pesetā Noumea Simi
  • Professor LYU Guixia
  • Mr Denghua Zhang
  • Hon Mark Brown
  • H E Ms Jackie Frizelle
  • Ms Andie Fong Toy
  • Tofa Hon. Fonotoe Nuafesili Lauofo
  • Dr Patrick Matbob
  • Ms Joyce Samuelu Ah Leong
  • Professor Jon Fraenkel
  • Professor LIU Hongzhong

See short biographies for all speakers and chairs.

Conference programme

The conference presents five panels and a theme forum take a multidisciplinary approach to examining Pacific Island perspectives on China’s evolving relations with countries in the Pacific region, primarily in Polynesia and Melanesia.

See full conference programme.

Official Opening

Chair: Fui Le’apai Tu’ua ’Ilaoa Professor Asofou So’o, Vice Chancellor, National University of Samoa, Apia

Opening Address

Hon Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, Prime Minister of Samoa

Opening address

Welcome Remarks

H. E. Mme Li Yanduan, Ambassador of the Peoples Republic of China, Apia

Welcome remarks

Keynote Address

Tony Browne, Chair, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, Wellington

Keynote address

Panel: Changing Geopolitics: China and the Pacific

Session 1

Chair: Leasiolagi Professor Malama Meleisea, Director, Centre for Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa, Apia

Dame Meg Taylor, Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva

Statement: China’s Growing Impact on the Regional Political Order

Dr Paul D’Arcy, Associate Professor, School of Culture, History and Language, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Canberra

Paper: The Chinese Pacific: A Historical Review

Professor LIU Shusen, Director of the Centre for Oceanic Studies, Peking University, Beijing

Paper: China’s Policy Towards the South Pacific

Session 2

Chair: Professor LIU Shusen, Deputy Dean, School of Foreign Languages, Director, Centre for Oceanian Studies, Peking University, Beijing

Ms Fekita Utoikamanu, Deputy Director-General, Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea and Suva

Paper: A Regional Perspective

Professor BO Zhiyue, Director, New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington

Powerpoint: China’s New Leadership and its Perceptions of the Asia Pacific Region

Tuatagaloa Aumua Ming Leung Wai, Attorney-General of Samoa

Paper: Reflections on the Experiences of the Chinese Community in Samoa

Panel: Regional security

Chair: Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, Center for Pacific Island Studies, University of Hawai’i.

Associate Professor YU Changsen, Executive Director, National Centre for Oceania Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou

Paper: The Pacific Islands in China’s Geo-Strategic Thinking

Professor Terence Wesley-Smith, Director, Centre for Pacific Island Studies, University of Hawai’i, Hawai’i

Paper: The Outlook for Regional Security at a time of Changing Geopolitics

Dr Jim Rolfe, Director, New Zealand Centre for Strategic Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Paper: Regional Security and the Role of External Actors

Panel: Chinese in the Pacific

Session 1

Chair: Professor Brian Moloughney, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Otago, Dunedin

Associate Professor Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa, Head of Pacific Studies, University of Auckland, Auckland

Powerpoint: Chinese Samoan Interactions – Influence both Ways

Dr Iati Iati, Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of Otago, Dunedin

Powerpoint: China in the Pacific: Alternative Perspectives

Pesi Fonua, Editor, Mataitonga, Nukualofa

Paper: China and the Pacific: A View from Tonga

Session 2

Chair: Professor Jenny Dixon, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Strategic Engagement), University of Auckland

Dr Graeme Smith, Research Fellow, School of International Political and Strategic Studies, Australian National University, Canberra

Powerpoint: The Drivers of Current Chinese Business Migration to the South Pacific

Dr Rebecca Bogiri, Vila, Vanuatu

Speech: A Pacific Island Student in China - Reflections

Associate Professor WANG Xuedong, Deputy Director, National Centre for Oceania Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou

Paper: Non-traditional Security and Global Governance: China’s Participation in Climate Adaptation in Oceania

Panel: Development Cooperation

Session 1

Chair: Associate Professor WANG Xuedong, National Centre for Oceania Studies, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou

Professor John Overton, Professor, School of Geography, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington

Paper: The Context of Overall Aid in the Pacific – and its Effectiveness

Dr Philippa Brant, Research Associate, Lowy Institute for Public Policy, Sydney

Report: Mapping Chinese aid in the Pacific

Dr Biman Prasad, Leader, National Federation Party, Fiji; formerly Professor of Economics, University of the South Pacific, Suva

Paper: Soft Loans and Aid: China’s Economic Influence in the Pacific

Ms Dulciana Somare-Brash, Deputy Director, Pacific Institute of Public Policy, Vila

Paper: China’s Aid: a Melanesian perspective

Session 2

Chair: Letuimanu'asina Dr Emma Kruse Va'ai, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, National University of Samoa

Mrs Pesetā Noumea Simi, Assistant Chief Executive, Ministry of Finance, Apia

Powerpoint: The Samoan Experience of China’s Aid

Professor LYU Guixia, Research Centre for Pacific Island Countries, Liaocheng University, Shandong

Paper: China’s Development Aid to Fiji: Motive and Method

Denghua Zhang, PhD candidate, Australian National University, Canberra

Paper: The Trend Towards Chinese Triangular Development Cooperation: the Cases of PNG and Timor Leste

Hon Mark Brown, Minister of Finance of the Cook Islands

Powerpoint: The Tripartite China/NZ/Cook Islands Project in the Cook Islands – a Cook Island Perspective

Peter Zwart, Deputy Director, Kiribati, Samoa, Vanuatu, International Development Group, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade

Powerpoint: The Tripartite China/NZ/Cook Islands Project in the Cook Islands – a New Zealand Perspective

Panel: Trade and Investment

Session 1

Chair: Ms Andie Fong Toy, Deputy Secretary-General, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Suva

Auelua S. Enari, Chief Executive Officer, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour, Apia

Statement: Reaction to China's rise and growing role in Oceania

Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, Centre for Pacific Island Studies, University of Hawai’i, Hawai’i

Paper: Feeding the Dragon: China and Natural Resource Developments in Oceania

Dr Patrick Matbob, Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea

Powerpoint: Chinese Resource Projects in PNG

Session 2

Chair: Michael Powles, former chair, Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission Preparatory Conference

Ms Joyce Samuelu Ah Leong, Assistant Chief Executive, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Apia

Powerpoint: China’s Growing Tuna Fishing Fleet in the Pacific Ocean: A Samoan Fisheries Perspective

Dr Paul D’Arcy, Associate Professor, School of Culture, History and Language, ANU College of Asia and the Pacific, Canberra

Paper: China and the Sea: Potential for Pacific Partnerships?

Final Forum

Chair: Professor Jon Fraenkel, Professor of Comparative Politics, Victoria University of Wellington

Mr LIU Yang, Deputy Head of Mission, Chinese Embassy in Samoa

Responding remarks

Media Report