 | |
 China |  Fiji |
|---|---|
| Diplomatic mission | |
| Chinese Embassy, Suva | Fijian Embassy, Beijing |
| Envoy | |
| Chinese Ambassador Quan Bo | Fijian Ambassador Ioane Naivalurua |
TheRepublic of the Fiji Islands was the firstPacific Island country to establishdiplomatic relations with thePeople's Republic of China, in 1975.[1] China established an embassy in Fiji in 1976, and Fiji opened its embassy in China in 2001.[2]
China-Fijian diplomatic and economic relations significantly increased in the first decade of the 21st century.
Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China and theRepublic of China (Taiwan), a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. Ten states in Oceania recognise the PRC, and four recognise the ROC. These numbers fluctuate as Pacific Island nations re-evaluate their foreign policies, and occasionally shift diplomatic recognition betweenBeijing andTaipei. In keeping with the "One China Policy", it is not possible for any country to maintain official diplomatic relations with "both Chinas", and this "either/or" factor has resulted in the PRC and the ROC actively courting diplomatic favours from small Pacific nations.[3][4] In 2003, the People's Republic of China announced it intended to enhance its diplomatic ties with thePacific Islands Forum, and increase the economic aid package it provided to that organisation. At the same time, PRC delegate Zhou Whenzhong added: "[T]he PIF should refrain from any exchanges of an official nature or dialogue partnership of any form with Taiwan".[5] In 2006, Chinese PremierWen Jiabao announced that the PRC would increase its economic cooperation with Pacific Island States. The PRC would provide more economic aid, abolish tariffs for exports from the Pacific's least developed countries, annul the debt of those countries, distribute free anti-malaria medicines, and provide training for two thousand Pacific Islander government officials and technical staff.[6] Also in 2006, Wen became the first Chinese premier to visit the Pacific islands, which theTaipei Times described as "a longtime diplomatic battleground for China and Taiwan". Similarly, according toRon Crocombe, Professor of Pacific Studies at theUniversity of the South Pacific, "There have been more Pacific Islands minister visits to China than to any other country".[7]
When relations were first established, Fiji had no exports to China, and the volume of Chinese exports to Fiji amounted to just €1.6 million. In 2002, Chinese exports –consisting mainly in textiles, light industrial products and mechanical and electrical products– amounted to €21 million, while its imports from Fiji –mainly raw sugar, saw log and synthetics– amounted to €0.97 million.
The two countries signed an agreement on trade cooperation in 1997, and an agreement on economic and technical cooperation in 2001.[2]
Several research and spaceflight support vessels of theYuan Wang class, including the Yuan Wang 5 and the Yuan Wang 7, have used Kings Wharf atSuva to resupply.[8][9] Chinese Ambassador Qian Bo has denied Australian media reports that the Yuan Wang 7 was used to spy onHMASAdelaide while docked atSuva.[10]
A small number of Fiji students study in China, some with a scholarship provided by the Chinese government.
Fiji has also welcomed cultural performances from China – including a number of “martial art and acrobatic troupes”. Since 2001, Fiji Television relays programmes fromChina Central Television.[2]
The countries’ leaders have visited one another regularly. Not counting stopover visits, top ranking Chinese government visitors to Fiji have includedVice PremierChen Muhua in 1979,Hu Yaobang (General Secretary of theChinese Communist Party) in 1985, PremierLi Peng in 1992, Vice Premier and Foreign MinisterQian Qichen in 1996,Chi Haotian (Vice Chairman of the Central Military Committee) in 1998, andWu Yi (Minister of Foreign Economic Cooperation and Trade) in 1998.
Top ranking Fiji government leaders to China have includedPrime MinisterRatu SirKamisese Mara in 1979, 1985, 1988 and 1990,Governor-General Ratu SirPenaia Ganilau in 1980, Foreign MinisterFilipe Bole in 1987, Commander of theFijian Armed ForcesSitiveni Rabuka in 1990,President Ratu SirPenaia Ganilau in 1991, Commander of the Fijian Armed ForcesEpeli Ganilau in 1992 and 1997, Prime MinisterSitiveni Rabuka in 1994, Minister of Foreign Affairs and TradeBerenado Vunibobo in 1997, Prime MinisterMahendra Chaudry in 1999, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and SugarKaliopate Tavola in 2001 and 2002, and Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase in 2002.[2]
Fiji's foreign policy under Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase (2000–2006) was (in the latter's own words) to "look north" - i.e., strengthen its relations with Asia in general and China in particular. Qarase stated: "We look now for new markets, where there is flexibility of entry and a readiness to meet the export needs of small, isolated island countries. This is what we would like to engage on with China as we increasingly look north for the answers to our trade and investment aspirations."[6]
Following themilitary coup in Fiji in December 2006, the PRC distanced itself from the Western nations which condemned the overthrow of Qarase's government. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs deputy director general Deng Hongbo stated:
The post-coup "interim government" led by CommodoreFrank Bainimarama has continued Qarase's "look north" policy. In July 2007, Finance MinisterMahendra Chaudhry responded to the contrast between Western criticism and Chinese support for Bainimarama's government:
Later that year, a China/Fiji Trade and Economic Commission was set up to enhance economic relations between the two countries.[13] The PRC has maintained a position of support, calling on other countries to show "understanding" for Fiji's situation.[14] And although Fiji has no diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the latter's Trade Mission representative in Fiji, Victor Chin, has also called on the international community not to pressure Fiji: “I think we should give the interim government the benefit of the doubt. They committed to have an election when everything is ready. I think we should take their words [sic] for it.”[15]
In March 2008, followingunrest in Tibet, Fiji expressed its support for China's actions in dealing withrioting in Lhasa.[16] Shortly thereafter, police in Fiji arrested seventeen people who were protesting in support of Tibet outside China's embassy inSuva. Those arrested were "mainly women who had gathered peacefully", according to aRadio New Zealand International correspondent, and includedhuman rights activistShamima Ali.[17]
A May 2008 article in theSydney Morning Herald stated that "China's aid to Fiji has skyrocketed since the coup in December 2006", from €650,000 to over €100,000,000. The author of the article commented: "Just as Australia and otherWestern donors are trying to squeeze [Fiji's] rebel Government, China has dramatically stepped up its aid, effectively dissipating any pressure Western donors might have been generating." The author suggested that China did not wish to risk antagonising Fiji and thus unwittingly push the Bainimarama government towards seeking aid from Taiwan: "China clearly finds itself boxed into a corner. On the one hand, Western states are asking it to help isolate the new dictatorship in Fiji. On the other, China faces the risk of losing a Fiji starved of funds to its renegade province, Taiwan."[18]
In August 2008, while on a visit to China, Commodore Bainimarama spoke of the "very close and cordial relations that our two countries share in our trade, cultural and sporting linkages", and added:
In February 2009, at a time when Fiji was facing pressure from thePacific Islands Forum over its apparent lack of progress towards a restoration of democracy, Chinese Vice-PresidentXi Jinping paid a state visit to Fiji and met Prime Minister Bainimarama.[20] On that occasion, Xi stated that he wished to "further enhance [China-Fiji] exchanges and cooperation in such fields as culture, education, public health and tourism". Xinhua reported that, during Xi's visit, China and Fiji had "signed a number of cooperative deals" by which China would provide Fiji with "economic and technical assistance".[1] China committed itself to increasing its imports from Fiji. Bainimarama, for his part, re-affirmed his country's recognition of the One China policy, and, as reported byFiji Village, "thanked the Chinese government for fully recognizing Fiji's sovereignty and adopting a policy of non-interference in its domestic affairs".[21]
In May, Bainimarama told Australian reporter Graham Davis that, unlike Australia and New Zealand, the Chinese authorities were "very sympathetic and understand what’s happening here, that we need to do things in our own way".[22] Also in May,Vice-President of FijiRatuEpeli Nailatikau described Fiji's "relationship with the government and the people of the People's Republic of China as one of its most important".[23]
In June 2009, the Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement, an organisation founded in Australia to campaign for the restoration of democracy in Fiji, sent a petition to the Chinese embassy inCanberra, asking China to "withdraw support for the military regime".[24] At the same time, Australian Foreign MinisterStephen Smith asked China "not to use [its] contacts with Fiji to undermine efforts to pressure Fiji to hold elections".[25]
In February 2010, when Fiji'shuman rights record was examined by theHuman Rights Council'sUniversal Periodic Review, and several countries highlighted what they described as human rights violations under Commodore Bainimarama's administration, the Chinese delegation intervened to "commend the Fiji government for the efforts it has made in the promotion and protection of human rights".[26][27]
In 2024, theOrganized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) andThe Age reported on connections betweenChinese organized crime figures and theChinese Communist Party's politicalinfluence operations in Fiji.[28][29]
In June 2025, Fiji's prime ministerSitiveni Rabuka stated that a Chinese military base in Fiji is not welcome and that China must respect Fiji's territorial waters.[30]
In 1997, Fiji opened its Fiji Trade and Tourism Representative Office in Taipei inTaiwan.[31] Taiwan operates the Trade Mission of the Republic of China to the Republic of Fiji.[32]
Taiwan provides continuous free medical assistance to Fiji. A Taiwanese medical team visits the country on an annual basis to offer its services in hospitals and clinics. The Fiji government has expressed its gratitude for the help.[33]
In 2005, Taiwanese PresidentChen Shui-bian visited Fiji, where he was greeted by government delegates with "full traditional Fijian ceremony of welcome" - although he did not meet his counterpart PresidentRatu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, nor Prime MinisterLaisenia Qarase. Ambassador Cai expressed China's "disappointment" at Fiji for having authorised the visit. Later that year, relations were slightly strained once more when Fiji supported Taiwan's wish to join theWorld Health Organization.[34] Nonetheless, Qarase's government did not vary from its official recognition of the "One China" policy.
On 10 May 2017, Fiji closed its Fiji Trade and Tourism Representative Office in Taipei inTaiwan.[31] Taiwan, however, still operates its trade mission to Fiji.
On October 8 2020, Chinese embassy officials gatecrashed and then attacked Taiwanese officials as they were holding the ROC National Day celebration with Fijian officials. One of the Taiwan officials who was assaulted needed to be taken into hospital. One of the Chinese officials was also injured. In the aftermath of this assault, Fiji says it will start protecting Taiwanese officials.[35][36][37][38]
Yuan Wang 7 is one of the seven ships used for tracking and support of satellite and intercontinental ballistic missiles by the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The Chinese research vessel has been a regular at the Kings Wharf to refuel and restock the past years.
The People's Republic of China's tracking vessel Yuan 5 and New Zealand's Inshore Patrol Vessel HMNZS Hawea are at Suva Port.
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