Tonga has overcome predictions the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting would be marred by disorganisation or stoushes, all while living up to its ‘friendly islands’ nickname.
The annual Pacific summit of regional leaders wrapped up on Friday following an overnight leaders retreat in Vava’u.
Anthony Albanese was one of a handful of leaders to skip that stay, leaving on Thursday night after a visit of less than 48 hours.
The Pacific organisation has been devilled by rifts and spats in recent years, and there were certainly differences of geostrategic outlook on display in Nuku’alofa.
PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa was happy enough to gave the summit a glowing review.
“It’s a testament to not just the unity but the solidarity,” he said.
“I’m very, very pleased with the outcome of this meeting and especially the the level of attendance, the level of participation from our dialogue partners and other non-traditional partners.
“It came at the highest level, ministerial level. It’s unprecedented.
China, the United States, the European Union, France and other non-members sent delegations and every PIF leader attended, except for Kiribati, currently undergoing an election.
There were breakthrough talks on the thorniest issue – the future of New Caledonia – between colonial power France and Noumea which clears the way for a PIF leaders mission next month.
The Australia-backed Pacific Policing Initiative won also support from leaders, though the communique noted that participation was subject to “national consultation”.
“As a government we agree, we endorse in principle this initiative,” Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said.
Veteran reporters who have covered multiple summits gave both Tongan and PIF organisers the tick of approval.
Adaptability was never more evident than on Monday, when proceedings were barely impacted by a 6.6 magnitude earthquake and aftershocks just north of Tongatapu.
On the same day, Nuku’alofa experienced unseasonably heavy rain, causing delegates to walk through puddles of water several inches deep to move around.
There was little fuss, some minor reshuffling of venues, and the can-do spirit that Pacific nations are well-known for.
Various reports in the lead-up to biggest-ever PIF Summit, with more than 1500 delegates, painted a gloomy picture of Tonga’s readiness.
Those fears were not realised.
Accommodation – a central challenge to many hosts – was sorted with the help of demountable bedsits and new hotels.
“It’s amazing,” Tonga Prime Minister Hu’akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni said.
“The community, the church and that have all come together to provide hospitality to our visitors, our forum members and dialogue partners.
“I’m very happy we’ve had that support welcoming the Pacific and the world here to Tonga.”
There were still disagreements and awkward moments.
Top of that list was a “hot mic” exchange by Albanese with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, which showed chumminess between the two powers which may not be appreciated in all corners of the Pacific.
Albanese attacked the ethics of a Radio NZ journalist for taking a recording of that exchange, even though it was in an accredited area.
Veteran reporter and academic Tess Newtown Cain came to the journalist’s defence.
“It’s absolutely not appropriate for an Australian prime minister to attack a journalist in a region which has issues with media freedom,” she told AAP.
“An Australian leader should be setting an example and supporting openness.”
It remains to be seen whether next year’s leaders meeting in Honiara will be so embracing, with Manele refusing to guarantee that Taiwan, a PIF development partner, would be welcome.
The Solomon Islands government – which recognised Taiwan over China until 2019 – stated at this summit it does not see Taiwan as fully sovereign.
After the meeting-concluding press conference, China’s Special Envoy to the Pacific, Qian Bo, railed the communique including a reaffirmation of a previous decision to allow Taiwan’s attendance.
“This is a surprising mistake … it must be corrected,” he said.
