Fiji’s strained relationship with China has encountered an unexpected obstacle in the form of an office door.
In a video shared on social media on Tuesday, Sitiveni Rabuka, the prime minister of the Pacific island nation, explained that he would not be accepting an invitation to visit China due to an accident. While looking at his phone, he tripped and hit his head on a door at the entrance of a government building.
Mr. Rabuka humorously remarked, “I do not know whether my head is hurt more than the door, or the door hurt more than my head.” He displayed his bloodstained shirt and pointed out the bandage on his head to the viewers.
Since his doctor needed to change the bandage on Friday, he had to inform China that he would not be able to undertake the trip scheduled for the following night. China had invited Mr. Rabuka to Chengdu, where he was supposed to meet with Xi Jinping, the country’s leader, at the World University Games.
The video has raised eyebrows, particularly because Mr. Rabuka, a former coup leader who democratically won power in Fiji’s tumultuous election last year, has been attempting to distance his country from Beijing.
China’s Embassy in Fiji, which had announced Mr. Rabuka’s invitation to China, expressed understanding and wished him a speedy recovery in a statement on Twitter. The embassy also expressed willingness to issue another invitation to the country.
China has been striving to increase its influence among Pacific island nations, with Fiji being a prominent player due to its strong military and robust economy compared to its neighbors.
However, since taking office, Mr. Rabuka has hinted at the possibility of scrapping an important policing agreement with China, shown gestures of recognizing Taiwan (which China considers a renegade province), and declined to meet with a high-ranking Chinese diplomat, Ma Zhaoxu, citing the need to mourn a family member’s death.
During a visit to Wellington, New Zealand’s capital, last month, Mr. Rabuka hinted that Fiji could potentially align more closely with neighboring countries like Australia and New Zealand, both of which are American allies. He questioned the potential for cooperation with Beijing if their systems and values differ.
Mr. Rabuka has since distanced himself from the idea of a reconciliation with Taiwan. Nevertheless, the prospect of a visit to China still came as a surprise.
As a result, when Mr. Rabuka shared his video, speculation began to circulate.
Alex Tan, a political scientist at Canterbury University in New Zealand, commented, “It’s a curious accident, so to speak, but very convenient,” in an interview with a local news outlet.
Mr. Rabuka seemed to anticipate that not everyone would believe his story.
He said, “I’m sure there’ll be a lot of speculations. But nothing to worry about.”
2023-07-25 23:50:03
Original from www.nytimes.com
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