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India–Pacific Islands relations

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International relations exist between the nation of India and the Pacific Island Nations.

Relations between the nations are shaped by militaristic national security issues, as well as by environmental issues. In 2022, a diplomatic push by China to expand military bases and increase economic and political influence in the south pacific; was closely watched by India. This is in part because pacific island nations exist in a region with maritime borders that overlap sea lanes important for world trade.[1]

Overview

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India has sought stronger ties and influence with Pacific Island Countries since at least 2014, after establishing the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation. It has participated in technological diplomatic efforts in those countries in the fields of natural disasters, solar power, electrification, among other areas. India has also opened a space research and satellite monitoring station in the Fiji islands.[2]

In May 2023 India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Papua New Guinea for the purpose of visiting leaders of Pacific Island countries as part of the . India first hosted a meeting of that forum in 2015.[3] In Port Moresby Modi met with leaders of Vanuatu at the Port Moresby summit.[4] The visit was partly motivated for reasons that India had concerns regarding potential naval bases, and Chinese control of ocean resources in the Pacific Island region.[5] Indian engagement with pacific island nations has been described as having 'enormous potential to transform local economies' by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.[6]

The pacific island nations have been a prominent topic in discussions of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue that India is a part of.[7]

Climate change diplomacy

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Pacific island nations regularly advocates in international forums for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from large economies such as the United States, China, and India. One particularly strong advocate is Vanuatu, motivated in part by the fact that Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the effects of climate change.[8] A call by Vanuatu's president Nikenike Vurobaravu to develop a 'fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty' was criticised by Indian commentators as 'misplaced in intent and purpose'; claiming that it would deter Indian development.[9][10] India's position is that coal should only be 'phased down' and not 'phased out'.[11]

In response to India's protesting the language of the resolutions at the Glasgow climate conference, the Alliance Of Small Island States attempted to make fossil fuel elimination a part of national climate plans at COP27.[10]

Opposition also emerged between India and pacific island nations during the Bonn conference.[12]

Nation-specific relations

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Fiji

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See also: Fiji–India relations

Relations between India and Fiji are strong, for a number of historical reasons. Some of these include the fact that 40% of people in Fiji are of ethnic Indian descent, known as Indo-Fijians. Mahendra Chaudhry became the country's first Indo-Fijian prime minister in 1999.

Vanuatu

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See also: India–Vanuatu relations

As part of its diplomatic push for influence in the pacific island region, India provided cyclone relief to Vanuatu when tropical cyclone Hola hit the country in 2017.[13]

Vanuatu advocates in international forums for the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from large economies such as the United States, China, and India. This is motivated in part by the fact that Vanuatu is one of the most vulnerable nations in the world to the effects of climate change.[8] A call by Vanuatu's president Nikenike Vurobaravu to develop a 'fossil-fuel non-proliferation treaty' was criticised by Indian commentators as 'misplaced in intent and purpose'; claiming that it would deter Indian development.[9][10] India's position is that coal should only be 'phased down' and not 'phased out'.[11] Vanuatu has been described as representative of a "a strong and vocal group of small island-developing states whose voice is heard with attention and empathy in the UN. More so, when it is a matter that will affect the global discourse on climate change" in Indian news publications such as The Hindu.[14]

Vanuatu has been described as representative of a "a strong and vocal group of small island-developing states whose voice is heard with attention and empathy in the UN. More so, when it is a matter that will affect the global discourse on climate change" in Indian news publications such as The Hindu.[14] In March 2023 Vanuatu proposed a climate justice resolution which was adopted by the UN General Assembly by consensus.[15] This resolution was co-sponsored by Australia, and was not supported by India.[16]

Some prominent people of Indian origin are citizens of Vanuatu due to the country's citizenship programs, including Atul and Rajesh Gupta.[17]

India and Vanuatu have opposing stances in international environmental matters other than climate change, including on the topic of deep-sea mining. Vanuatu has advocated for a pause on deep-sea mining until regulations are in place,[18] whereas India has participated in deep-sea exploration contracts.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Reporter, Didi Kirsten Tatlow / Senior; Affairs, International (2022-12-29). "China outshines U.S. as global scramble for bases heats up". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  2. ^ P.K.BALACHANDRAN (2023-05-26). "India Eyes Land And Seabed Wealth Of Pacific Islands". www.thecitizen.in. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  3. ^ "India's Modi to Visit Papua New Guinea in Outreach to Pacific Island Countries". VOA. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  4. ^ "India's Modi to Visit Papua New Guinea in Outreach to Pacific Island Countries". VOA. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  5. ^ "India's Modi to Visit Papua New Guinea in Outreach to Pacific Island Countries". VOA. 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  6. ^ Bergin, Anthony (2023-03-03). "Australia has had some Pacific wins, but there's no cause for complacency". The Strategist. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. ^ "10 March 2023: The Week in Australian Foreign Affairs". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  8. ^ a b Schonhardt, Sara (2022-08-23). "Tiny island nation lays out big plans for climate change". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  9. ^ a b "Vanuatu Calls for Treaty to End Fossil Fuel Use". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  10. ^ a b c "Vanuatu's big plea does little to arrest climate change". The Hindu. 2022-11-03. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  11. ^ a b "Vanuatu Calls for Treaty to End Fossil Fuel Use". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  12. ^ Sadasivam, Naveena (2023-06-27). "How a small island nation is taking climate change to court". Grist. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  13. ^ P.K.BALACHANDRAN (2023-05-26). "India Eyes Land And Seabed Wealth Of Pacific Islands". www.thecitizen.in. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  14. ^ a b "Vanuatu's big plea does little to arrest climate change". The Hindu. 2022-11-03. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  15. ^ "As Vanuatu proposes climate justice resolution, globalisation of green technology, assertive activism is required". Firstpost. 2023-04-13. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  16. ^ Dziedzic, Stephen (2023-03-02). "Australia backs climate change obligations neither the US or China wants to go near". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  17. ^ "Gupta Brothers Confirmed to Hold Vanuatu Citizenship". www.occrp.org. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  18. ^ McVeigh, Karen; Michael, Chris (2023-07-08). "Future of deep-sea mining hangs in balance as opposition grows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  19. ^ McVeigh, Karen; Michael, Chris (2023-07-08). "Future of deep-sea mining hangs in balance as opposition grows". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
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