When finally, much of the Pacific’s leadership gathered together in Washington this week it was an ego satisfying exercise, especially for a forgetful President Joe Biden.
Speaking at the ‘historic’ first summit he announced ‘more than $110 million in expended US programs to improve the lives of Pacific Islanders’. When the White House issued a transcript later, this line was changed to announce ‘more than $810 million in expanded….’
The curious thing is that when you delve into statements around the summit, Biden’s original figure, $110 million, was closer to accurate than the amended one.
As an aside, the $810 million is equivalent to around 32 hours of US defence spending.
And of the $810 million, three quarters of it is over 10 years (if Congress approves) and it is tied to the US-Pacific tuna treaty, a kind of artifact of of capitalism designed to ensure American fishermen get a share of the Pacific nation’s exclusive economic zones (EEZ). It's not aid at all.
The Washington summit was a belated response to growing Chinese involvement in the Pacific. It acquired urgency with Chinese activities of various kinds in Kiribati, Vanuatu and, most notoriously, the Solomon Islands.
No sitting United States president has ever visited a Pacific nation; Pacific leaders do not get to visit the White House, other than very occasionally. No Pacific leader visiting Washington has had drums and guards in the Rose Garden.
This piece is free to read at. Pacific Media News
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