Climate change, not China, biggest security threat to Pacific - experts
Climate change, not China, poses the biggest security threat to the Pacific, a regional defence summit has been told. There was a shift in tone at the Shangri-La Dialogue meeting in Singapore this week which has been dominated by the war in Ukraine and disputes between China and the United States. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) which specialises in conflict, security and development, said the low-lying islands including Fiji, Tonga and Samoa are some of the most vulnerable in the world to the extreme weather events caused by the climate crisis. These islands have been battered by a series of tropical cyclones in recent years, causing devastating flooding that has displaced thousands of people from their homes and impacted the economy, the institutes associate fellow, Dr Jeffrey Mazo, told the meeting. READ MORE: * Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Wellington for talks with Nanaia Mahuta * Jacinda Ardern and Samoan PM discuss climate change, strategy * Security pact: Why Solomon Islands chose China over Australia Mazo said climate change risked exacerbating security issues in the Pacific and would, in turn, influence all aspects of regional peace and stability. Climate change is not only impacting weather events, but also affecting the global geopolitical landscape, particularly in the region, where it could aggravate existing security issues and, at worst, give rise to new and unpredictable threats. The varying impacts of climate change - from food, water and energy insecurity to resource competition and shrinking biodiversity - could also delay anticipated shifts in the balance of military and economic power and exacerbating existing inequalities between developed and developing economies. Similar concerns were expressed by Fiji. Minister for Defence, Inia Seruiratu, said machine guns, fighter jets, grey ships and green battalions are not Fijis primary security concern. The single greatest threat to our very existence is climate change. It threatens our very hopes and dreams of prosperity, Seruiratu said. The top security meeting has been dominated by debate over Russias invasion of Ukraine and rising tensions between Washington and Beijing - from Taiwans sovereignty to military bases in the Pacific. But the region has become front and centre of tensions this year after China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands in April. New Zealand, Australia and the US have denounced any increased Chinese military presence in the Pacific. Beijing has maintained it was not establishing a military base in the Solomons capital Honiara, but that its goal is to strengthen security cooperation with the Pacific nations. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi has ended a two-week tour of the Pacific, where he hoped to secure regional trade and security pacts with 10 countries. However, several of the island nations were unable to reach a consensus on a deal. Fiji played down concerns about a battle for influence in the Pacific with its top security official highlighting his governments willingness to work with other countries. In Fiji, we are not threatened by geopolitical competition, Seruiratu told the summit. We have to adapt how we work and who we work with to achieve stability in the Pacific. Greenpeace agrees. Taking action on climate change means each person gets involved, it said. We havent yet done enough. Climate change will also impact US political considerations in the region critical military bases and installations in both the Pacific and Indian oceans because of rising sea levels, Mazo said. This includes Marine Corps facilities in Japans Okinawa Prefecture, the Andersen Air Force Base and Naval Base on Guam and missile defence test sites in the Marshall Islands and Hawaii. The Pacific is often seen as the poster child for climate change, but the world doesnt often hear Pacific voices, says University of Auckland co-head of Te Wananga o Waipapa, Dr Jemaima Tiatia-Seath. Tiatia-Seath is leading groundbreaking research on how the mental health and wellbeing of Pacific people is impacted by climate change. The study also explores how New Zealand can ready its health system to support those needs, when people are forced to relocate due to the impacts of the climate crisis.