PNG foreign policy: the O’Neill and Pato legacy

The Foreign Policy Review Report (FPRR) written by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in June 2017 listed international trends that are either political in nature or concerns our security. These significant developments have influenced the behavior of states and non-state actors in the international system in the past 40 years. The list includes:

• the collapse of the Soviet Union and emergence of freshly-independent countries;
• the economic reforms in the 1990s, and the global financial crisis of 2007-9;
• enlargement of the EU, followed by preparations for the UK's withdrawal (Brexit) following the June 2016 referendum;
• the global spread of terrorist threats;
• what is widely to be a new Asian Century shaped by China, India, and increasingly determined by the rise of these economies as well as the role played by ASEAN;
• instability and conflicts in the Middle East, including the flight of refugees;
• threats to resort to the use of nuclear weapons by North Korea;
• tensions in the East and South China Seas; and
• other possible threats to the stability and security of particular countries, regions, and globally. 

The FPRR said while some of these development are located on the other side of the world, they may have nonetheless significant, direct implications for PNG (the impact of Brexit on the EU and the EU's co-operation with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states party to the Cotonou Agreement, which includes Papua New Guinea, is a case in point). Closer to home, the tensions in the South and East China Seas have the potential to impact adversely on PNG's trade and other economic connections.

In November 2017, Allan Marat questioned Rimbink Pato about the country's position on North Korea. Pato said the position of the country in condemning the actions of North Korea in relations to security issues on the Korean Peninsula was as a member of the UN and a part of the global community. He also said that PNG was seeking during that period to implement a number of resolutions of the UN Security Council as required for North Korea to undertake a programme of denuclearisation which it had not adhere to.  

His response was in line with PNG’s strategic objective to become a 'Good Global Citizen'. Being a good global citizen was an essential part of PNG’s foreign policy goal of 'connecting for peace and prosperity in a changing world'. During Peter O’Neill and Pato's tenure, PNG wanted to strengthen its political, economic and social development and to promote peace, security and prosperity through mutual respect and understanding between countries in our immediate neighbourhood, the wider Asia-Pacific, and globally.

The six strategic objectives mentioned in the FPRR to achieve the foreign policy goals endorsed by the O'Neill and Pato were:

1. Neighbourly Co-operation;
2. Strengthening Key Partnerships;
3. Diversifying and Building Partnerships for Mutual Benefit;
4. Trade and Economic Relations;
5. Good Global Citizenship; and
6. Institutional Strengthening, Modernization and Operational Processes. 

Strategic objective 2, 3 and 4 helps one to understand why we signed ‘One Belt One Road Initiative in 2018. Xi Jinping said PNG was an influential Pacific island country. The relationship between both countries have grown over the years and China was willing to move to the next level of our bilateral relations. Xi talked about strengthening communication, deepening cooperation and expanding exchanges, which are all prerequisites to building a strategic and enduring partnership.

The 6 strategic objectives replaced the 5 strategic objectives outlined in the Department’s Corporate Plan 2014-2016. Published in 2014, O’Neill and Pato supported these five strategic objectives:

1.      Mutually Respectful and Supportive Cooperation;

2.      Refocus on the Asia-Pacific;

3.      Building Partnerships;

4.      Good Global Citizenship; and

5.      Capacity Building.

O'Neill expressed the country's respect for China's position on the disputed claims in the South China Sea issue. During his state visit to China in July 2016, he said in a joint press release that China had legitimate and lawful rights and interest in the South China Sea. Furthermore, he said China has the right to choose independently the means of dispute settlement in accordance with law. PNG acted as a good global citizen by being mutually respectful towards China.   

PNG under O’Neill and Pato was not conducting its international relations on an ad hoc basis. We followed our strategic objectives outlined in the ‘PNG Connect’ foreign policy. The policy was clearly stated in the 2 corporate plans and the FPRR. 

Furthermore, a series of consultations with serving heads of missions or posts directed by O’Neill helped in the formulation of the policy. The meeting held on 11 – 13 February 2014 at the Headquarters was the first. The Europe-USA region then met in Brussels on 21 – 22 May 2015. The Pacific region met in Brisbane on 11 – 12 June 2015, and the Asia region met in Manila on 30 June – 3 July 2015. Finally, they all met in Port Moresby on 15 – 16 February 2016.

On April 2016, a NEC policy submission from Pato advised on the outcome of the ministerial and departmental consultation and the second heads of missions or posts conference in Port Moresby. The submission recommended that the NEC consider conducting a foreign policy review, which led to the publication of FPRR.  

As stated in the FPRR, under the direction of O’Neil and Pato, the Department took a whole-of-government approach in conducting the foreign policy review. They were able to engage all stakeholders in the formulation and development, and, where necessary, implementation of a foreign policy based on and centred towards securing (both protecting and promoting) PNG’s national interests.

However, academic institutions like Divine Word University was not included in the consultation process. The government through the Department of Higher Education is aware that the institution does offer a program that includes international relations as a strand. Involvement in the process of foreign policy formulation will contribute to capacity building in academia. We can say the same for the University of PNG’s political science strand.