By Mataeliga Pio Sioa
There is merit in both collective rights versus sovereign rights.
Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has brought the issue for the Pacific Family of island nations to debate, obviously to counter the appeal of China in the region.
Solomon Is. has signed on a security agreement with China and if Australia is worried about it then they have their reasons.
The bottom line question for all of us in the region is what are these reasons?
All Senator Penny Wong has to do is explain why the Pacific Family should worry as Australia is.
If she can convince member countries that she speaks from the heart for the good of the family then she will have no problem.
Australia can save on the money to buy better things they want than on a new patrol boat for Samoa and not have to worry about China stepping in.
The same if Australia won’t sign up to a ‘Tautua-Human Development For All’ partnership, to fix up on the country’s good health and other social issues.
The Senator makes a strong point about the collective rights serving the greater good but is that really true or are there hidden agendas for Australia?
What are these agendas and are they good enough to deny the Solomon Is. assistance from China for their security concerns?
Convince our Pacific Family and Senator you will be the most loved politician in our island region with the highest respect for your political integrity.
Anytime Australia says jump, all you will hear Senator from family members is ‘how high’.
When you talk to them about China they will probably think Chinese food, convinced and secured in Australia’s sincere assurances.
Samoa has just celebrated her sovereign rule and it is always an uplifting moment for us the citizens.
But in our experience of 60 years of independence, political interaction in the world we live in comes in high and low tides – it is just the way it is.
We have seen and heard leaders agonise over what works for the good of everyone and what to shy away from for the sake of the country.
Our former Prime Minister Tuilaepa favours ‘ the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ philosophy in response to the ‘ collective rights’ argument.
If China wants to offer as a friend a shovel or a spade that will make life easier for Samoa what is wrong with that?
Does China have a hidden agenda behind the gifting of that shovel or spade to Samoa? Who does not have any! Human nature.
Besides angels live in Heaven, they only appear to do us good and disappear back to their comfort zone.
Obviously China and Australia for that matter are no angels. They live on earth like we all do and they look out first and foremost for Number 1 – like we all do.
But despite our weaknesses we do try and look out for the good of our fellow man.
Right there is where the ‘enemy of my enemy’ philosophy Tuilaepa sings starts to make good sense.
Australia is quite obviously coming off overly protective for the collective good, but China is not their enemy nor is ours. So we should all be good.
No need to rush off to bang the drum about collective rights fearful China will use the excuse of giving Solomon Is. security to attack and take over Australia.
Australia can keep their patrol boat and their partnership if they are being dangled as sweeteners for the Pacific Family to keep China away.
Please don’t do that. It is insulting and humiliating when strings are attached.
If China wants to gift Samoa a shovel why would we need collective approval to accept and be thankful for their help?
The Solomon Is. is having security concerns, if China is willing to extend a helping hand what is collectively wrong with that?
Tuilaepa with his wealth of political insight stored over the years, domestic and worldwide, makes good sense by keeping abreast of the politics of the bigger world.
Big powers will always play their politics and the minnows like Samoa are dragged in to strengthen their position as agreeing members of a collective partnership.
Does that sound familiar with all this talk of collective rights and responsibilities raining on our collective conscience?
Senator Wong did come across as a warm, kind hearted soul, so too did her Chinese opposite HE Wang Yi.
Ultimately it comes down to the choice of conscience for the collective as well as sovereign rights for our Pacific Family.
In the case of Australia and China they will have to friend up for the greater good because a “…friend of a friend should be a friend.”
Makes good, friendly, common sense for the Pacific Family.