LEADER of Opposition Matthew Wale has blasted the Government for the statements issued recently to justify the switching of diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China.
He statement comes after the Government hastily sealed the switch to China and made the announcement at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York last week.
“The statements by the Government clearly shows that the prime minister has run out of ideas on how to address the problems affecting our economy, and pins his hopes on China to salvage us,” Wale said in a statement.
“This is childish, irresponsible and demonstrates a weak leader with no vision,” he added.
“Sogavare was prime minister on four terms now and so he knows full well that our problems are largely based on bad leadership, corruption and a wrong prescription of policies; policies that do nothing about redirecting our economy.
“These are by and large, domestic problems that have very little or nothing at all to do with our donor partners, including Taiwan.
“Thus if the Prime Minister wants to blame anyone for our economic woes, he should blame himself and not to use Taiwan as a scapegoat.
“The prime minister knows full well that, unless we address the domestic problems that affect the growth of our economy, no donor will single handedly solve them for us.”
He added: “It is also clear from the Government’s statements that the Prime Minister is either naive, or he has no clue that the rushed decision to make the switch has now exposed this country to levels of risk that could have far reaching consequences for the country than meets the eye.
“China’s promise of direct monetary assistance is part and parcel of a global strategy that is targeted at making China a dominating global superpower.
“While the Belt and Road initiative amongst other incentives may be attractive on face value, it is equally important that the geopolitical considerations under pinning China’s foreign policy are properly dissected if an informed decision is to be made.
“In the manner in which the Prime Minister has been talking and is seen to be spearheading the drive to quickly get formalities in order for China, it is clear that he has no time to consider these overarching dimensions.
“This is leadership at its worst.”
