THE United States Embassy in Suva has hit back at the Chinese Embassy after the latter this week called on Fiji to join China in defending global trade rules under the World Trade Organisation (WTO), as the trade fallout between the world’s two biggest economies continue to unwind and rattle global economic order.
A cryptic “Mathew 7:3” caption to a Facebook post shared by the US embassy on the press conference convened by China’s Ambassador to Fiji Zhou Jian on Wednesday was followed by a statement yesterday in which US Ambassador to Fiji Marie Damour formally responded to Ambassador Zhou’s press conference.
“It’s puzzling that any country purporting to be a friend to Fiji would try to publicly undermine Fiji’s bilateral relationship with one of its partners,” Ambassador Damour stated.
“That’s not who the United States is or the kind of partner we strive to be. Implying that Fiji is incapable of steering its own foreign policy not only insults the country’s leadership, but also disrespects its people.”
US President Donald Trump’s controversial tariff spree announced early this month, which clearly marked China as a major target apart from hitting Fiji with a 32 per cent “reciprocal” tariff (currently on pause), had thrown global trade into a turmoil, incurred condemnation from China and forced the plight for reprieve from small nations like Fiji onto the sidelines as US negotiations with the world’s major economies take centre stage.
In his press conference, Ambassador Zhou called on Fiji and other Pacific nations to stand up to “US trade bullying”, to which the US Embassy’s “Mathew 7:3” counter, quoted from the Holy Bible (NIV), read: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
Fijians, according to Ambassador Damour, “are perfectly capable of handling their own affairs without such ‘advice’.”
“Fiji and the United States enjoy a longstanding relationship built on shared values of faith, mutual respect and openness,” she stated.
“No country – especially ones that do not share those same values – should attempt to interfere with that relationship, as these cheap shots will fail.”
Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated April 18, 2025
