Tuvalu is now obliged to let Australia oversee its foreign policy. In exchange, Australia is “generously” allowing a number of Tuvaluans per year to flee climate disaster and settle in Australia. The climate disaster that Australia as a coal giant has no interest in stopping, or better yet, compensate the island nations for instead of slowly absorbing their governments and populations
You realise that number will gradually increase and everyone will have a pathway to Australian citizenship?
Australia is a contributor to global warming but pretending a nation with the tiny population Australia has could turn the tide isn’t going to help anyone.
So you’re conveniently ignoring the protectorate status? And the fact that Tuvalu doesn’t really have another choice? And that this is just one in a long line of “anti-China deals” Australia is forcing on its island neighbors?
Yes, actually I do expect reparations (“free handouts”) and free asylum for climate refugees.
Maybe you should ask why Australia decided to wrangle Tuvalus independence instead of just making a better offer. And also, to ask yourself for whom exactly this deal is “the best option”. Not the majority of the Tuvaluan population.
On a global scale Australia has very little impact in terms of climate so if anyone was paying reparations the majority wouldn’t be from Australia would it?
It’s obvious why Tuvalu ceded independence of certain rights and that’s because they’re on the pathway to no longer existing and they want stability and security from a prosperous and trustworthy country.
Of course the deal is in Australia’s interest.
If you think nations act without their interests in mind you are extremely naive. This is just realpolitik.
That’s how rich countries oppress poor countries though. No better offer existing doesn’t make this a good offer, it just shows that people are still as tribalist as ever. Australia absolutely contributes to Tuvalu’s climate crisis, and gives them an extortionate deal because nobody else will do better, not because it’s fair or close to it.
Defending that just seems like saying that might makes right.
If only all refugees were oppressed with deals to improve their health, education, wealth and offered a pathway to citizenship in a stable democracy when faced with an existential crisis.
What is the problem you see with Australia / Tuvalu relations?
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/tuvalu/australia-tuvalu-falepili-union-treaty
Tuvalu is now obliged to let Australia oversee its foreign policy. In exchange, Australia is “generously” allowing a number of Tuvaluans per year to flee climate disaster and settle in Australia. The climate disaster that Australia as a coal giant has no interest in stopping, or better yet, compensate the island nations for instead of slowly absorbing their governments and populations
You realise that number will gradually increase and everyone will have a pathway to Australian citizenship?
Australia is a contributor to global warming but pretending a nation with the tiny population Australia has could turn the tide isn’t going to help anyone.
And nothing ever comes free in geopolitics.
So you’re conveniently ignoring the protectorate status? And the fact that Tuvalu doesn’t really have another choice? And that this is just one in a long line of “anti-China deals” Australia is forcing on its island neighbors?
If it’s the best option Tuvalu has it makes sense to make the deal, if there was a better deal they’d have made it.
Did you expect a free handout?
Tuvalu could have made a deal with China. Maybe you should ask why they saw Australia as the better option.
Yes, actually I do expect reparations (“free handouts”) and free asylum for climate refugees.
Maybe you should ask why Australia decided to wrangle Tuvalus independence instead of just making a better offer. And also, to ask yourself for whom exactly this deal is “the best option”. Not the majority of the Tuvaluan population.
On a global scale Australia has very little impact in terms of climate so if anyone was paying reparations the majority wouldn’t be from Australia would it?
It’s obvious why Tuvalu ceded independence of certain rights and that’s because they’re on the pathway to no longer existing and they want stability and security from a prosperous and trustworthy country.
Of course the deal is in Australia’s interest.
If you think nations act without their interests in mind you are extremely naive. This is just realpolitik.
That’s how rich countries oppress poor countries though. No better offer existing doesn’t make this a good offer, it just shows that people are still as tribalist as ever. Australia absolutely contributes to Tuvalu’s climate crisis, and gives them an extortionate deal because nobody else will do better, not because it’s fair or close to it.
Defending that just seems like saying that might makes right.
If only all refugees were oppressed with deals to improve their health, education, wealth and offered a pathway to citizenship in a stable democracy when faced with an existential crisis.