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May 22, 2005

Changing Horses in Mid Stream
Just what's behind Nauru's sudden switch of its allegiance back to Taiwan three years after having switched the other way and recognized Mainland China? At the weekend, Nauru's President Ludwig Scotty visited Taipei and pictures of him and the President of Taiwan toasting each other's countries have appeared in newspapers around the world. Both the Nauruans and the Taiwanese are being coy about the financial aspects of their new diplomatic arrangement and the Chinese Government is apparently encouraging speculation that tens of millions of dollars was offered to the Nauruan Government.
Pacific Beat

According to several reports, Nauru and the People's Republic of China have enjoyed cordial relations over the past three years, which resulted in doctors and medical supplies being supplied by China. However, during this period, Nauru was desperately attempting to stave off having their one and only Boeing 737 aircraft repossessed as lease payments were seriously in arrears. The People's Republic of China wisely refrained from participating in this arrangement. It is fairly certain that Taiwan came to Nauru's rescue as their President Scotty has admitted as much stating in effect that the aircraft would have been repossessed if it hadn't been for the help of the Republic of China.

Tahiti Tourism Developments
The number of tourists visiting French Polynesia fell by 1.3 per cent in 2004, and the government of President Oscar Temaru is hoping to boost tourism to the islands. Air Tahiti Nui is hoping that direct flights from the New York to Papeete, due to start in July, will expand an important tourist market. But within French Polynesia, there is debate about the social and environmental impact of large tourist hotels. Some people in the islands are not happy about new projects on the drawing boards.
Pacific Beat

Chantal Spitz, author of The Island of Broken Dreams and long-time resident of Huahine, is incensed by plans for a tourism project for her island, which would involve, hotel accommodation for 1,600 guests, a shopping centre, a golf course and a marina. In addition there are plans to upgrade the road around the island. Spitz calls for sustainable development involving guesthouses and the like rather than high-cost tourism projects. The developers claim that the hotel-complex and environs would employ approximately 800 people. However there are only 300 residents of Huahine seeking employment, indicating that the project does not lie within the scope or the wishes of the people of Huahine.

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