Contribution to United Nation Votes (CUV)
The common, united nature of the PICs at the Pacific Island Forum (PIF)[1] has significant influence in shaping global decisions facilitated by the United Nations. Excluding Australia and New Zealand, the PICs combined have 14 full members at the United Nations (UN), and each PIF member country is entitled to a vote per the UN policy of “one state one vote.” Thus the 14 PIF member countries have substantial muscle as not only are they united in character, but also because they vote in blocs. The case studies of Tonga, Vanuatu and Kiribati reveal that there is a common understanding, one woven into the practices of China and Japan in particular, that one goal of ODA is to win the favor of the PICs and thus their UN votes. The long battle between China and Taiwan for PIC recognition in order to gain PIC votes signifies that these votes hold significant value. The recent increase in the number of foreign embassies in the PICs also connects back to UN voting. From the research findings, supporting donor nations through UN votes is an implied Leverage, but it is not a matter that is discussed openly, with the exception of Chinese aid.
The PICs have been voting for their former colonial masters and now donors since their admittance to the UN; these votes are given as an implied favor in return for economic collaborations. The value of each vote might not be individually significant, but the appreciation that one gives as a receiver must be large according to the cultural perspectives of PICs. This appreciation is connected to the motive and the spirit, which is that one is willing to give everything that matters. Recognition of the CUV category would give PICs and government of developing governments the confidence to vote with dignity, acknowledging their votes as contributions to global solutions and for nations to stay united even when foreign policies are self-interested.
Possible spheres to re-articulate what Oceania can offer that the world needs:
Vote with Dignity as contributions to global prosperity
- Number of votes contributing to global issues
- Candidacy
- Number of foreign missions registered
- Number of diplomatic visits
- Number of Memberships in international organizations
- Number of signed agreements ...
What spheres in the SDGs that Oceania could contribute from their CUV?
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[1] Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.