China has accused Australia of trying to sabotage its relationship with Fiji as questions have emerged over whether the Pacific Islands country will cut security and law enforcement ties with Beijing, ABC News reported.
The ties between China and Fiji have strained ever since Sitiveni Rabuka took over power late last year, mainly after the new prime minister took back a decision, forcing Taiwan to downgrade the official title of its diplomatic mission in Fiji. The rise in tensions comes after a diplomatic spat between China and Fiji over Rabuka’s decision to not meet with China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu when he visited Suva last month. Sitiveni Rabuka has repeatedly said that he will end a 2011 police cooperation agreement signed between China and Fiji under the country’s former PM Frank Bainimarama. Rabuka said that wanted to limit law enforcement relations to countries with “similar systems,” as per the ABC News report.