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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Rarotonga
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Rarotonga and the biggest dignitary to visit Rarotonga since Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to stay with Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips – in 1974!
Hillary became the first Secretary of State ever to visit Rarotonga and she did so truly enjoying herself 'island style during her visit.' She especially liked the fact that people left her alone, and so it was “no surprise” she ventured to Punanga Nui Market on the Saturday morning where she was given a tropical flower head ei, as seen in the photo.
But why was Hillary in Rarotonga? The answer, because of China. Hillary Clinton was in Rarotonga to attend a regional dialogue hosted by the Pacific Islands Forum, usually the domain of island states, which includes Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand.
The Chinese, who have assiduously courted South Pacific Island nations in recent years, were also attending, and when Clinton arrived, it did not escape the attention of the media and that of the Chinese delegation which had scheduled a press conference for precisely the same day. China’s state news service is not subtle about its discontent, saying Hillary Clinton’s trip was “aimed at curbing China’s growing influence” and “stirring up disputes.” And it has called on Washington to “abandon its surreal ambition of ruling the Asia-Pacific and the world.” Clinton said the United States was in the Pacific for the "long haul".
China has been criticised in the past for putting conditions on aid funding, particularly in Africa, and for issuing soft loans in the Pacific that struggling nations cannot afford to pay back and it's important for the Pacific Island nations to have good relationship with as many countries as possible, including China, Hillary said.
Hillary also said "let's just put aside all the moral, humanitarian, do-good side of what we believe in, and let's just talk, you know, realpolitik." "We are in a competition with China," and that competition is now popping up across the Pacific.
During her visit to Rarotonga she was greeted by the local and international media, and Hillary said she thought Rarotonga was "fabulous", "I'm afraid half of my team will not want to go onto the next stop."
The Secretary of State promised Prime Minister Henry Puna during the Forum meeting that she would return for a holiday with her husband 'Bill' in tow.
Location: Rarotonga
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