00:00 The analysis that often emerges, at least here in Australia, is that under your leadership
00:06 over the last 10 months, Fiji has tacked more closely to traditional partners, at least
00:11 in the security space, while making it clear that when it comes to China, whilst you've
00:16 got a big appetite for economic cooperation, you don't see a particular role for them in
00:22 a security sense.
00:23 Is that an accurate analysis?
00:25 And can I ask you, sir, what's the status of the police agreement that you promised
00:29 to review between Fiji and China?
00:32 Is that still ongoing?
00:33 No, it is not.
00:35 It has been put on hold, particularly because of the differences in our systems of policing,
00:45 investigations and our legal system, justice system.
00:54 We would rather, or I would rather have Fiji go back to its traditional and comfortable
01:02 relationships of the past.
01:05 The sad thing about it is that who is now creating the conflict situation in the Pacific?
01:13 China and the USA, they were friends.
01:18 In Europe, USA bloc and Russia, they were friends.
01:26 Why are we going to this when former friends are considered as a threat to each other?
01:35 Why can't we try and relive the relationship they had during the Second World War?
01:42 They were friends during the Second World War.
01:45 It was only after, when we had peace, that each developed their own sovereign interests,
01:53 their own sovereign capabilities, their own defense capabilities.
01:58 And then it came into expansionism.
02:06 And expansionism is not really a military term.
02:11 It is just expanding your spheres and areas of influence.
02:18 And sadly, when you have influence there, you'd like to protect it.
02:22 How do you protect it?
02:24 Militarily.
02:25 Let's move to climate change.
02:27 Australia as you know, is pushing for a conference of the parties co-hosted with the Pacific.
02:32 Some Pacific leaders say Australia hasn't done enough on climate policy in its own domestic
02:37 policy to actually merit that.
02:41 What's your belief?
02:42 Has Australia done enough to get this over the line and does it need to take sharper
02:47 action?
02:48 Which of the hosts of COP conferences done enough?
02:52 None.
02:53 What we have to do is to go and talk to them, talk with them while they're hosting it.
02:59 We are asking the world to do this.
03:01 Are we doing it?
03:03 And I would encourage the Oceania region and the leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum,
03:10 let us support Australia.
03:11 It is the only time when we can bring the world to us.
03:15 So they are prepared to host it and finance it.
03:19 Let's go there and have our peace.
03:22 And that will resonate with the rest of the world, particularly those of us who are minimum
03:28 emitters but maximum threatened by the atrocities of climate change.
03:37 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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