Has the Pacific’s Ocean of Peace Concept Been Hijacked?

Has the Pacific’s Ocean of Peace concept been hijacked?

ANALYSIS: By Johnny Blades of RNZ Pacific As geopolitical tensions increase in the Pacific region and numerous security alliances are rapidly forged, questions are being raised over whether the Ocean of Peace concept is being hijacked. The Ocean of Peace Declaration was made last year by members of the Pacific Islands Forum, recognising the role of civil society in peacebuilding. However, the emphasis of the initiative seems to have quickly shi…

The stakes in the Pacific are increasing: the solutions need to adapt

Last week was a big week in the Pacific, with the race between order and disorder, between cooperation and competition, brutally laid out. Fiji and Australia came together to set out their plan for promoting peace, security and greater economic cooperation and integration. China decided to ignore all Pacific entreaties about creating an Ocean of Peace and test a ballistic missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. And we can be sure it won’t…