Tim Tufuga 2018 Blogs

Simple economics...GDP Explained in Chinese. A very simple dictum, people, "diversify your portfolio", as opposed to the one dimensional state planned sovereign wealth macroeconomic investments, essentially, in this macro-economic and micro-economic definition, the Chinese economic perspective for global influence expansion is not too dissimilar to the colonialist Mercantilism ideals. Political ideology becomes blurred and confused here depending on a macro or micro application of the dictum. Insofar as, applying GDP formula in sovereign wealth investments in geo-political externalised regions outside of Asia, the Pacific Region is of high value interest for the Chinese for resources acquisitions such as fishing waters for the Chinese Food Security needs, as well as the sphere of influence dimension. The quid pro quo arrangement for the Pacific Island Nations is simple, the Chinese want to expand their friendly posture to the region to gain a foothold on potential natu...

The Chinese foreign aid in the Pacific region has been most significantly rigorous and generous with an obvious carrot on the stick quid pro quo geo-political designs which seems very obvious and the salient outcome is China now emerging as the nascent Pacific Region Hegemonic power replacing the traditional Eurocentric Colonial powers that had, hitherto, dominated Pacific Island affairs for nearly half a millenia. (Courtesy: Samoa Observer) With the commercial and economic strength that comes with the emergent Asian Superpower is segway with the Chinese Military presence within the region. The military growth and the influence in the Pacific Region has been minimal but recent joint exercises with the PNG military has opened the Chinese sphere of influence to the Pacific region. (Credit: Tim Tufuga) Following on from this joint military exercise with PNG, other Pacific Island nations warming to the Chinese regional presence include Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga. Samoa has...