REVEALED: What exactly did Vanuatu sign up to when it joined the Belt and Road Inititative?
The Daily Post has seen the seven documents.
Details here:
dailypost.vu/news/belt-road…
The Daily Post has seen the seven documents.
Details here:
dailypost.vu/news/belt-road…
Highlights:
1) China ‘forgives’ a ‘no interest loan’ worth RMB 20 million from 2004. It was used to finance the Melanesian Spearhead Group HQ in Port Vila.
Former and current Finance officials insist this was a grant, say they knew knew nothing of this until 3 weeks ago.
1) China ‘forgives’ a ‘no interest loan’ worth RMB 20 million from 2004. It was used to finance the Melanesian Spearhead Group HQ in Port Vila.
Former and current Finance officials insist this was a grant, say they knew knew nothing of this until 3 weeks ago.
2) RMB 300m grant for container inspection equipment. An archive search suggests this is a previously unannounced project. No details are available.
Being able to inspect the contents of every single thing passing in and out of the country has obvious appeal.
Being able to inspect the contents of every single thing passing in and out of the country has obvious appeal.
3) RMB 350m EXIM loan to extend the ‘roads to nowhere’. Technically excellent work from the contractor, well-received by local population.
BUT… why not wait six months and see what USA/JPN/AUS could offer? Potential savings of millions (or maybe 10s of millions?) foregone.
BUT… why not wait six months and see what USA/JPN/AUS could offer? Potential savings of millions (or maybe 10s of millions?) foregone.
4) Establishment of a bilateral trade commission. Bilateralism is the essence of the #BRI, and one that subverts international trade regimes like the WTO.
Not sure what would happen to our silk belt/road if we should raise China's ire….
Not sure what would happen to our silk belt/road if we should raise China's ire….
5) Vanuatu is paired with Guangdong province. It’s common for #BRI clients to be assigned a provincial counterpart as their designated turf, if you will.
Vanuatu getting Guangdong is likely a sign of favour.
Vanuatu getting Guangdong is likely a sign of favour.
6) The #BRI Memorandum document itself highlights ‘policy coordination’, ‘facilities connectivity’, ‘financial integration’ among other things.
‘Facilities connectivity’ seems deliberately obtuse. It’s not clear what it means, but it does seem clear what’s intended.
‘Facilities connectivity’ seems deliberately obtuse. It’s not clear what it means, but it does seem clear what’s intended.
7) Training and human resource development. Trust is built between people, not institutions, in both Vanuatu and China.
China’s significant investment in the people of Vanuatu is obviously a manifestation of that, and likely to create real benefits for the relationship….
China’s significant investment in the people of Vanuatu is obviously a manifestation of that, and likely to create real benefits for the relationship….
7a) … Which is why diluting or hamstringing Australia's Seasonal Worker Programme would be a regressive move.
