The 60 Minutes story on China’s involvement in Fiji and the activities of Zhao Fugang is now available generally on YouTube.
The Fijian government says “due process” will be followed in its response to these revelations. But it is clear that the Coalition is totally out of its depth in dealing with the issues raised.
Both the Prime Minister and the Home Affairs Minister seem blindsided. And their failure to speak with one voice on the state of Fiji’s policing agreement with China is highly damaging for the government’s credibility.
A “must watch” for anyone concerned about the nation’s direction.
This is our Fiji. Such sadness. No words can express.
Someone from Russia has really taught these guys well. If you pretend hard enough or downplay something all the time, it never happened.
I think people who no longer residing in Fiji and have been following these shenanigans for the past few days are thanking their lucky stars they got out when they can.
For people who think this issue is too trivial, you havent realized that Fiji has been sold, in little bits and pieces to the Chinese government. It only remains to rename the country from Fiji to Fijiama or Fijishika.
Fijiama or Fijishika is more Japanese than Chinese. So how much land do the Chinese own in Fiji. All this China bashing yet enjoying takeaways from your nearest Chinese takeaway. Enjoying your China made products. You people are a bunch of sore losers who are caught in the past. Wake up and enjoy your Chinese green tea.
Good old Kneel. Happy to have a convicted Chinese drug and people trafficker in business with the Minister for iTaukei Affairs but we’re the “sore losers”. No mate. You are the loser – a NZ based apologist for the Coalition government as it continues the policy of its predecessor of selling Fiji down the Yangtze.
Just lost for words with what I am seeing at what China has done not only to Fiji but the whole Pacific region (Pacific Island Countries – PICs)!
I likened the Chinese strategy of doing businesses and diplomatic ties with PICs with that of a centipede on a human body. Though the centipede when on a human body is not easily detected until it bites, it is only when threatened, that it bites and the effects is short / long term depending on the person it bites! The Chinese ‘invasion’ on the PICs is similar to that of the centipede but sadly, the repurcussions will be long term and very very destructive as well!
I for one have advocated for educated, experienced, well grounded and ethical civilian leaders to take Fiji forward as we have seen the repurcussions of having military personnel in politics!
Yes this is a major concern for the region. Good to highlight the Aus media story.
But Mr Davis, why do you sound so surprised?? That was 2017. Most of us were aware at the time and alarmed at growing Chinese influence but it was dangerous to speak out.
You worked in communications for the Fiji First Govt 2012-2018 thru Qorvis (a huge expense to us Fiji tax payers.)
Please share with us some examples of how you raised your concern and spoke out about this at that time?
We were totally unaware of what was happening until after it happened so there was no chance to say anything. So incidentally was the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. It all took place without any reference to the chief law officer of the state, the DPP and the judiciary. And that is the God honest truth.
Qorvis at that stage was paid $F1-million a year or $US480,000. That was for two people in Fiji – me and another – doing all the govt’s PR effort – speech writing, media releases and all manner of legitimate govt work. And supervised by the head of the Fiji account at Qorvis HQ in Washington. Plus other specialist staff where necessary.
So it was actually very good value for money and would have cost Fiji a lot more but for the fact that Qorvis subsidised the Fiji account with its other billings. Why? Because it valued the fact that it had assisted Fiji to return to parliamentary rule. So it wasn’t a cash cow but a prestige account for a company that had been accused of supporting dictators actually supporting the restoration of democracy in Fiji. And that too is the God honest truth.
I’m very proud of the work we did in Fiji, not only the restoration of parliamentary rule but my subsequent work on Fiji’s oceans campaign and Fiji’s presidency of the COP-23 climate negotiations. Frankly, if the Coalition had the services of Qorvis or a similar company, they wouldn’t be in the mess they are in. The government’s comms are all over the place. It is a dog’s breakfast in which the government lurches from one crisis to another. And the evidence for that is there for everyone to see.
Our illegal acting DPP strikes again. This time to save the 5 iTaukei who were charged in Nadi for drug related offences. Whilst an Indo Fijian who was found at a checkpoint with less than 1 gram of illicit drug was handed a jail term.
Fiji’s Judiciary is a joke. ADPP now wants to give them Immunity and offer them a lifeline to become state witnesses. So once released they can go back and reoffend.
If this was Indo Fijian or other minor ethnic group, they wouldn’t have such luxury of Immunity.
Fiji is the worst place to be right now. Even the skies have cracked open and God is crying watching over us.
Not having overseas consultants in the first 100 days in office was obvious. Coalition went local by hiring their own professionals from the legal and Finance sectors. The Fiscal Review Committee realized quickly that it was a futile exercise because only twenty thousand people paid taxes in the country. Two hundred plus were from the top tax bracket.
Under FFP Tax man and CEO, only 50% paid taxes.
A vast difference in the number of people who actually pay tax in Fiji.
For the social ills, all outsourced to nonprofits from overseas.
No country can prosper under this circumstance where there is insufficient funds to take care of tge welfare of its citizens.
Royal Flush: Agree generally on the taxation iniquity .The $30k threshold meant many who benefit from govt services were not income taxed.
However Income Tax is not the only tax-any individual who buys goods/ services for personal consumption pays VAT which goes into the state treasury. And there are other indirect taxes of the nature of vat.
The new Chinese have been quietly buying up land in the major tourist areas, and so have other foreign nationals. The money laundering unit of the RBF should investigate
Of course, interests on investments as well. But what’s the pirion of the population have large investments to contribute to this firm if government t revenue?