1) Indonesia says protesters in Samoa should have had govt approval

2) Influence of France and China in Pacific sets scene for top level talks

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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/338958/indonesia-says-protesters-in-samoa-should-have-had-govt-approval

1) Indonesia says protesters in Samoa should have had govt approval

about 1 hour ago 

ndonesia's Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand ,Tantowi Yahya, says protesters supporting West Papua independence should have sought a government permit of approval to stage the action.

At least 30 local people supporting the West Papua independence movement took part in a peaceful protest this week in front of the hotel where the Pacific leaders summit is held in Samoa.

A member of Mr Yahya's delegation also accused one senior journalist of asking provoking questions in support of the West Papua issue.

But the Ambassador said the reporter's questions was based on outdated information.

West Papua was one of the issues raised by the civil society delegation in this week's Forum leader's meeting.

But Ambassador Yahya said the issue of Papua was not on the agenda at this Forum meeting.

"First it will not bring any relevant issues which connects to the agenda and the second, it's kind of, in our perspective talking about Papua in this conference is not in place because from the begining there is no agenda as such that will be concerning the issue of Papua," he said.

The Indonesia delegation will join other Pacific Forum dialogue partners including the United States, China, and Japan in a face to face meeting today at the leader's retreat.

It’s the final agenda of the annual Pacific leaders summit in Samoa.

Indonesia's Ambassador to Samoa, Tonga and NZ, Tantowi Yahya (C).  Photo: Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

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http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/08/25/influence-france-and-china-pacific-sets-scene-top-level-talks

2) Influence of France and China in Pacific sets scene for top level talks

The addition of two French controlled territories, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, as permanent members is already a talking point given the forum has long been exclusive to sovereign states only.

It effectively gives France a seat at the table and the European giant has confirmed it will be represented in Apia this week by Secretary of State to the Minister for Ecological and Inclusive Transition, Sebastien Lecornu.

"It is the biggest single change of the status quo in the 21st century in the region," research fellow Jonathan Pryke from the Lowy Institute told SBS World News.

Mr Lecornu is expected to focus on climate issues during his talks with other leaders in anticipation of the COP23 UN climate change conference in November, which will be held in Bonn but presided over by the government of Fiji.

Mr Pryke said for Australia and New Zealand it is a positive change because it allows a western power into the region to counteract China's growing influence.

"I think Australia would be very happy to have another global player involved in the forum and have more engagement from developed countries," he said.

“Australia and New Zealand are seen as the primary developed country partners in the region, so just having more support and more developed nations helping the region develop would be beneficial for everyone involved."

China 'acting like a bully' in Asia-Pacific region, McCain in Sydney says 

Veteran US Senator John McCain has accused China of becoming a bully in the Asia Pacific and says he wants Australia to work with America to help modify Beijing’s behaviour.

China’s influence 'more opportunistic than targeted'

China has spent billions of dollars on aid in the region, dramatically increased two-way trade and upped its ownership of local businesses.

Mr Pryke believes China's growing influence in the Pacific is not targeted but rather part of the country's global strategy to further its interests across a broader network.

China has supplied host country Samoa with 20 cars to help transport forum leaders in Apia this week after Samoa made the request three months ago.

“Although the time is a bit tight, the Chinese accepted the request immediately because Samoa is China’s long-time friend and we would consider the request from the Samoan government as our priority,” Chinese Ambassador to Samoa, Wang Xuefeng, said during a handover ceremony last month.

China also has a close relationship with Fiji, which is often seen as the problem child of the forum.

Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama will once again boycott the forum, as he has done for years, after an earlier decision to ban him from attending over his role in leading Fiji's 2006 military coup.

More recently, Fiji has joined Papua New Guinea in refusing to sign a new regional trade deal aimed at improving labour mobility across countries in the Pacific.

Climate change tensions simmer

The theme at this year's Pacific Islands Forum is 'Blue Pacific: Our Sea of Islands', so a focus on climate change, transnational crime and fisheries management is guaranteed.

“For the Pacific region and its island countries, the ocean is crucial,” Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said in Apia earlier this week.

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says the way Australia is perceived by its smaller neighbours has come a long way in recent years.

"We have a major responsibility to assist our neighbours," Minister Fierravanti-Wells told SBS World News.

"The stability and security of the Pacific is only second to the defence of Australia," she said.

Tensions over climate change boiled over at the Pacific Islands Forum in 2015, when then Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his New Zealand counterpart John Key were at odds with smaller low-lying nations on the threat to their existence from rising sea levels.

Kiribati and Tuvalu are particularly vulnerable and will continue to push the same message this year.

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