Otago Daily Times

Prospect of Biden presidency sparks optimism around Pacific

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Congratula­tory messages continue to pour in from Pacific leaders to US presidente­lect Joe Biden but what does the change of the guard in Washington mean for the Pacific? RNZ Pacific spoke to political experts and commentato­rs in the region about the possible effects of a Biden presidency.

DR Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulak­a, political scientist and director of the centre for Pacific studies at the University of Hawaii Manoa, said the most important issue for Pacific Island countries was climate change and Joe Biden’s victory was a boost to the campaign for global climate action.

‘‘The United States officially pulled out of the Paris [Climate] Agreement on Wednesday last week,’’ he said.

‘‘One of the promises that the Biden government has is to recommit the US in addressing climate change issues.’’

Kabutaulak­a said this included recommitti­ng the US to internatio­nal agreements like the Paris Climate Agreement.

‘‘That is a very big issue for Pacific Island countries,’’ he said.

‘‘Because they have been pushing for a very long time for developed countries or industrial­ised countries, like the US, to be committed to issues of climate change.’’

Kabutaulak­a said Biden also campaigned on the US looking at making the transition from a fossil fuelbased economy to one based on more sustainabl­e renewable energy sources.

‘‘It will not have an immediate impact on the world . . . particular­ly Pacific Island countries that are already affected by climate change.

‘‘If that were true and the US were to make that commitment and the transition, then it could mean that other countries in the world will follow the US example.’’

Kabutaulak­a said US environmen­tal aid to the Pacific was likely to be redefined under a Biden presidency.

In recent years the US had committed hundreds of millions of dollars to the region, through its ‘‘Pacific Pledge’’, for economic developmen­t, environmen­tal resilience and more recently to help with Covid19 responses.

However, Kabutaulak­a said the environmen­tal component of the funding had proved contentiou­s under the Trump Administra­tion.

‘‘Given the fact that climate change was the most important issue for Pacific Island countries, there was a lot of questions about what environmen­tal resilience meant,’’ he said.

‘‘I think that will be redefined under the Joe Biden government,’’ Kabutaulak­a said.

Foreign policy

When it comes to US relations with the Pacific, the region of most strategic importance is the northwest, the socalled ‘‘tip of the spear’’.

Northern Marianas historian Don Farrell, who was emotional about the result, said the past four years under Donald Trump had been very tense for people in the Northern Marianas.

‘‘He [Trump] has led us into a potential military conflict in the Western Pacific,’’ Farrell said.

‘‘His fight with China and North Korea just frightened us very, very much.’’

The Trump Administra­tion’s lack of comprehens­ive foreign policy made the future seem very uncertain for many in Micronesia, he said.

It was a relief to know Biden had a completely different attitude to foreign policy issues.

‘‘We are looking forward to a transition that will bring in a comprehens­ive group of profession­al staff at all levels in all agencies in Washington DC that will allow us to have stability and the ability to help drive forward our own desired futures,’’ he said.

Jury still out

Outside Micronesia, there is what has been described as the somewhat neglected US territory of American Samoa.

Former US Peace Corps volunteer turned local publisher John Wasko had been a resident of the territory for 40 years.

He said the jury was still out on what a Biden administra­tion could do to improve the lot of American Samoans.

Wasko said for all the jubilation among democrats and Biden supporters, the issue of systemic racism in the US still needed to be addressed.

‘‘In many ways American Samoa kind of fits into that demographi­c,’’ Wasko said.

Even compared with the poorest parts of the US, public services such as education and health in American Samoa were underfunde­d, he said.

Parts of American Samoa’s legislatio­n were also at odds with the US.

‘‘We do not enjoy the benefits, for instance of US minimum wage,’’ Wasko said.

He said the birthright of American Samoans was not US citizenshi­p. They were considered US nationals without the full benefits and voting rights of other Americans.

Wasko acknowledg­ed the cultural considerat­ions from which some of this arose but said the fact American Samoans were not even given a choice between full citizenshi­p and the US national status was questionab­le.

‘‘This prevents many American Samoans from ever being employed by the national government, not having the same voting rights in the United States or even the same immigratio­n rights.’’ — RNZ

 ?? PHOTO: U.S. AIR FORCE/SENIOR AIRMAN RIVER BRUCE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS. ?? Guam is strategica­lly important to the United States, housing both an air force and navy base. US Air Force mechanics take selfies as a B1B bomber flies overhead at Andersen Air Force Base, in Guam, in May.
PHOTO: U.S. AIR FORCE/SENIOR AIRMAN RIVER BRUCE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS. Guam is strategica­lly important to the United States, housing both an air force and navy base. US Air Force mechanics take selfies as a B1B bomber flies overhead at Andersen Air Force Base, in Guam, in May.

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