Kiribati Votes Amid Rising Tensions Over Living Costs and Foreign Influence

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Citizens of Kiribati cast their votes on Wednesday in the first round of a national election that is seen as a referendum on escalating living costs and the government's increasing alignment with China. The low-lying Pacific nation, home to 120,000 residents, faces significant threats from rising sea levels, lacking the resource wealth and tourism appeal of its regional counterparts. Its strategic location near Hawaii has intensified competition for influence between Western nations and Beijing. Analysts predict that voters may favor the incumbent government, which has introduced universal unemployment benefits and enhanced subsidies for copra. Independent journalist Rimon Rimon noted that citizens are beginning to connect their economic challenges with current policies. Concerns from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States regarding China's growing influence in Kiribati have been vague and often frustrating for Pacific nations, according to Takuia Uakeia, director of the Kiribati campus of the University of the South Pacific. Since shifting to a pro-China stance, Kiribati has implemented stricter regulations for researchers and journalists, requiring permits for filming and adopting a more restrictive approach to information access. The government has also kept the details of ten agreements signed with China in 2022 under wraps. Voters expressed confusion over polling logistics, with a list of voting locations released just a day prior and uncertainty about identification requirements. Traditionally, Kiribati has been governed by consensus and strong democratic principles, but the contest for foreign influence has created divisions within the society, raising questions about the effectiveness of international partnerships.