Insightful Commentary by PAUL MAIMA
PRIME MINISTER James Marape carrier in politics came to the spotlight this week as he brushed aside all criticism to host our Pacific leaders with the emerging Asian tiger economy, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Papua New Guinea has its own domestic issues to deal with like any other country in the world.
But when it comes to International Geopolitical, Prime Minister Marape has raise the bar to be a player in this space and time. When we are threaten with Climate Change, Regional Security threat, exploitation of our scarce extractive, marine resources, human and drug trafficking as well as good transparent governance.
As our Pacific region is confronted with these challenges, a responsible government of the people must take measures to ensure its security, peace, environment and its resources are protected.
Pacific Leaders convening in Port Moresby to deliberate and taking actions on these issues shows the maturity of our Sovereignty as an Independent state in the Marape- Rosso Government.
The meeting are strengthening our regional unity in politics, economics and governance as a player in the quest for power in the Indo-Pacific.
It defines our alliance with our global community as a friend to all and an enemy to none.
Marape must be applauded for his leadership in embracing the pressure and chattering a new chapter for a Security Pact deal for PNG that will bring immense economic benefits to our country and Pacific at large.
The State Department said the new agreement provides a framework to help improve security cooperation, enhance the capacity of Papua New Guinea’s defence force and increase regional stability.
“The work that we’re doing together to try to shape the future could not be more important, could not be more timely,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters. “We’re deeply invested in the Indo-Pacific because our planet’s future is being written here. Papua New Guinea is playing a critical role in shaping that future.”
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said the pact is mutually beneficial and “secures our national interests” in “becoming a robust economy in this part of the world.”
The U.S. also signed a maritime agreement with Papua New Guinea which will allow the U.S. Coast Guard to partner with the Pacific nation to counter illegal fishing and drug smuggling.
PNG has 5,152km of coastline and a 2.7 million square km exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Papua New Guinea has established maritime boundaries with Australia, Indonesia, and the Solomon Islands.
Papua New Guinea has an unlimited boundary with the Federated States of Micronesia and potentially also with Indonesia and the Solomon Islands in continental shelf areas beyond 200 nm.
Papua New Guinea’s marine biodiversity is a very much a function of its location. Positioned as it is right in the middle of what is commonly referred to as the “Coral Triangle”.
Generally considered by marine biologists as the global epicentre of marine species diversity. The Coral Triangle encompasses the countries of Indonesia, East Malaysia (Sabah), the Philippines and Papua New Guinea. Simply stated, it is the richest area of marine biodiversity in the world.
The area’s biodiversity is simply stunning and is characterized by more than 600 species of coral and 3000 species of reef fish.
Papua New Guinea has an extensive and valuable fisheries sector ranging from inland river fisheries, aquaculture, coastal beche-de-mer and reef fisheries to the prawn trawl and large-scale deepwater tuna fisheries.
The total market value of PNG catch is estimated at K350 to K400 million on average.
PNG do not has the capacity to monitor illegal fishing. The new maritime agreement with the US will surely boost its marine security within its territorial waters in protecting our pristine marine life. It will increase its economic values through its fisheries sector.
Prime Minister Marapa said The US and PNG have a long history, with shared experiences and this will be a continuation of that same path.
“Papua New Guinea signed a generic SOFA [status of forces] agreement with other countries in 1989, and today with the signing of the defence and maritime agreements, it will only elevate the SOFA.”
“And this cooperation will help build the country’s defence capacity and capabilities and also address issues such as Illegal fishing, logging and drug smuggling in PNG waters.”
Blinken said that the agreement would provide $45m to help improve security cooperation and help PNG mitigate the effects of climate change, tackle transnational crime and improve public health.
“We are proud to partner with Papua New Guinea, driving economic opportunities and are committed to all aspects of defence and maritime cooperation,” he said.
Blinken told Pacific Leaders that the US was here to listen and find ways on how they can improve and do better in helping the Pacific.
The US presence in PNG and the Pacific is not to militarize our territory as most critics, unionist and students leaders are alluded to.
With the rising China aggression in the Indo- Pacific, PNG is prioritising its security need to protect its citizens and its resource as an alliance of conviction with the US and Australian as our former colony.
And not becoming an alliance of convenience to Dollar and Yuan diplomacy by China and US.
Now that PNG will be on the radar with the telescopic eyes of the American eagle, the giant Panda will not take it likely to showcase its economic and military dominance in the Indo- Pacific which they are very much integrated with since 1970s.
But on the other side of the coin the China sees Pacific islands as a target of what’s known as “South-South co-operation” – partnerships between developing countries.
Since the communist regime was founded in 1949, China has risen as an Asia and Indo- Pacific super power, their mistrust of the developed countries is deep rooted.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has aggressively protected its own territory just like the United States.
The West is believing China is using its military and economic coercion to bully its neighbours in the Indo- Pacific to advance unlawful maritime claims, threaten maritime shipping lanes, and destabilise territory along the periphery of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
Asia-Pacific economy and the Chinese economy are interdependent and deeply integrated with each other.
In fact, China is now a major trading partner of many Asia-Pacific economies and an important part of the industrial and supply chains in the region.
China has provided economic and technical assistance without any political strings attached, implemented more than 100 aid projects, delivered more than 200 batches of in-kind assistance, and trained about 10,000 talents in various fields to the Pacific Island Countries(PIC), in which PNG has benefitted enormously.
To solidify the PNG – China diplomatic relations, President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in November 2018. The new Boulevard and Butuka Academy were amongst the new projects funded by the Chinese Government.
The China-PIC diplomatic relations has been emphasize on a comprehensive strategic partnership featuring mutual respect and common development.
What the ordinary citizens in PNG and the rest of the Pacific Island Countries concerns is that the fiery confrontational diplomacy between the two super powers on the planet must not jeopardise the peace and economic advancement of the Indo- Pacific region.
The people focus are more on economic independence in improving their life styles, mitigating climate change, addressing infrastructure, education and health issues more specifically for PIC.
Something both the Chinese and the United States government have committed on to further progress.
Through PNG diplomatic ties with both China and the United States of America since 1975. Their presence in PNG and other Pacific Island countries are notably evident.
Prime Minister James Marape has kept his hands open by embracing both super powers. Something PNG can gain in years to come.
In considering the current trade and investment in business. PNG as a resource rich nation raw materials export to China and USA can bring in more Kina, through such engagement by the Marape-Rosso Government.
Exxon Mobil a US company has been successfully operating the PNG LNG project, with most gas sold to China.
With the second Papua LNG coming up and US assisting in the surveillance of the Marine tine EEZ, PNG revenues for the Fisheries sector is expected to triple to K1.5 billion per annum.
PNG as a developing country and an import driven economy, PNG has committed itself to developing its country as stipulated by our constitution to trade with all nations.
But when it comes to security matters, it must be dealt with sensitivity and maturity.
PNG Government under the leadership of Prime Minister James Marape has taken a bold stand to sign the Security Pack through his Defence Minister Win Bakri Daki with US Secretary of States Antony Blinken.
A dawning of a new hope is set into motion. Our aging military facility will get a facelift from the world’s best in the game, the US. The capacity building for our defense force, the use and accessibility to modern technology in arms and surveillance.
PNG relations with US goes back many years since World War II.
American presence in PNG continues ever since. With influx of Christian Missionaries since 1950. Establishing Churches, schools and health centres all across PNG.
In 1990s United States teachers came to PNG through a bilateral arrangement with GoPNG Education Department and Peace Corp USA.
The taught English, Mathematics and Science subjects in all High schools. Greatly improving the level of academic performance.
Many American Missionaries basing in SIL, Aiyura Eastern Highlands Province also assisted PNG in the translation of the Bible to many of our own dialect, vernacular.
Recently in 2015 some American Christian leaders donated the 400 years Old King James Bible to PNG.
Former Speaker of Parliament Theo Zurenouch flew to the US with a delegation of PNG Political and Christian leaders to bring the historic gift.
The KJ Bible is now placed in PNG National Parliament as a National Treasure.
The United States’ total investment in the Indo-Pacific is more than $1.4 trillion — more than China’s, Japan’s, and South Korea’s combined.
In November 2018, Former Vice President Mike Pence delivered an articulated speech on United States Indo- Pacific policy during the 2018 APEC meeting in Port Moresby.
He said America’s renewed economic growth was vital to our vision for the Indo-Pacific, where strong and independent nations grow stronger still.
“And they grow stronger still together,” he said.
“And that’s what America has always sought, going back to our nation’s earliest days.”
Mr. Pence said our history in the Indo-Pacific is a story of trade and commerce — starting more than two centuries ago with the Empress of China, a ship that left New York and travelled across the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific, reaching Canton, where it traded American ginseng for Chinese tea and porcelain.
“Throughout our history, it’s been a story of friendship and partnership — of bonds built over time with every nation — east, north, west, and south — including five of our most cherished treaty alliances.”
“It’s a story of strength and a story of sacrifice — of our nation’s bravest standing shoulder-to-shoulder with many of yours to push back the tides of imperialism and communism, from the Coral Sea to the Incheon Landing to countless hills and beaches and jungles between.”
“And it’s a story of progress in the Indo-Pacific — of our nation working hand-in-hand with all of yours to uplift our citizens and usher in a new era of opportunity for all.”
Mr. Pence said across this region, hundreds of millions of people have climbed out of poverty; innovation and entrepreneurship have accelerated; dictatorships have fallen and democracies have risen in their place; and citizens have stood tall to reclaim futures and reassert their independence, from Malaysia to the Maldives.
The further stressed that ” The United States also seeks an open Indo-Pacific, where commerce and culture flow freely; where the seas and the skies are accessible to all with peaceful aims; where disputes are resolved without conflict or coercion; where nations trade with one another, gathering as much as they give; and where we embrace a future of endless possibility for all who call this region home.”
“Do not accept foreign debt that could compromise your sovereignty. Protect your interests. Preserve your independence. And, just like America, always put your country first,” he said
Mike Pence made a mention of the 400 years old Bible King James Version.
“Before The Bible made its way here, it passed through my home state of Indiana.” He said.
“It calls to mind the rich and diverse traditions of culture and faith that characterized this vast region of the world.”
“And on that foundation, I believe we can be confident that our vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific will prevail.”
For, as it says in that old book, “where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
The recent visit by the United States Secretary of State Anthony Blanken to PNG under President Joe Biden administration is effecting some of the commitment done by President Donald Trump administration through his Vice President Mike Pence.
For Papua New Guinea to find its true Liberty as a Nation and fulfilling some of the promises of God in his word that we believe in.
The World War that was fought on our soil too, has change History. It has taught mankind to appreciate the gift of life. As all man are created equal in the eyes of God. That breaths the same air and bleeds the same red blood.
Despite of our race, creed and religion we are all Children of God. Whether you are a Papua New Guinea, United States of America, China, and India or from other countries of our Planet Earth.
The need for Humanity to live in a safe, secure and peaceful environment is the true essence of life that we must all promote.
We thanked our Prime Minister James Marape for becoming that agent of change during our moment in history.
