Analysis: 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.
Download MP37mThe 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 shifted.
Australia last week signed the Vuvale Union and Ocean of Peace Alliance treaties with Fiji, the latest in a series of regional pacts Canberra has forged with Pacific Islands countries.
He said the new treaties underlined Fiji's position as a regional leader.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Fijian PM Sitiveni Rabuka signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance on 6 July.
"The Vuvale Union and the Ocean of Peace Alliance have a really strong regional component," Australia's High Commissioner in Suva, Peter Roberts said in a post on X.
"I think we've all seen during this fuel crisis how important Fiji is as a hub. And we've seen on security matters how important Fiji is as a regional leader, including through Prime Minister Rabuka's vision for the Ocean of Peace."
According to Roberts, the treaties empower Australia and Fiji to support the Pacific region in efforts against security threats such as transnational crime, cyber crime and illegal fishing.
"Including in this Fiji and Australia supporting the establishment of the Ocean of Peace Centre, in close co-operation with the Pacific islands Forum. So you'll see Australia and Fiji standing together in support of the stability and prosperity of the region."
The Vuvale Union is backed by around AU$1 billion in funding for Fiji by Australia over a decade, while Australia is also funding the Ocean of Peace Centre to the tune of around AU$22 million
Geopolitical commentator Dr Connor Graham from the Lowy Institute said Australia sees great value for money in these arrangements.
He said Australia was driven by the aim of keeping China out of Pacific waters and maintaining its position as the dominant security partner in the region.
"I'd note as well, a billion dollars over ten years is a lot of money. But it's relatively small fries in terms of defence, and the rest of the defence budget and militarisation. So I think this sort of defence through diplomacy is quite a cost effective use of money."
While Canberra notches a big diplomatic win, regional civil society has been left wondering where it all leaves the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
The declaration came together off the back of significant engagement with - and made provision for the leadership of - Pacific civil society in peacebuilding, especially women and Indigenous communities.
"This meaningful inclusion was celebrated and consultation followed on the premise of institutional support for conflict prevention and mediation initiatives grounded in culture, like those that were so successful with the Bougainville conflict, or in bringing Kiribati back into the Forum," Pacific historian AUT lecturer Marco de Jong said.
But now, with the signing of the Ocean of Peace Alliance and plans to establish the Centre, the language has shifted from being about conflict prevention, peacebuidling and mediation towards deterrence, and the countering of China through military means.
It coincides with the plan of the Australian-led Joint Heads of Pacific Security to insert itself into the Pacific Islands Forum-led regional security architecture, and to advance a regional deployment framework
Joey Tau, the coordinator of the Pacific Network on Globalisation and the chair of the Pacific Regional NGO Organisations Alliance, said that as civil society, they welcomed the original Ocean of Peace initiative
"But our main concern is that we hope such a declaration is not co-opted or used as a strategy to advance external security and military interest of external parties."
