Kiribati and China to develop former climate-refuge land in Fiji

President of Kiribati says China will provide technical assistance' to convert land in Fiji into a working farm to supply produce to Kiribati'

A block of land the government of Kiribati bought in Fiji half a decade ago - ostensibly to serve as a refuge when their country disappeared under a rising ocean - will be transformed into a commercial farm to help feed the i-Kiribati people, with technical assistance" from China.

The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, announced last week that China would help fulfil his administration's plan to resume farming on a 22 km sq parcel of land in Fiji, sparking widespread speculation the land would be gifted or sold to China. Maamau has ruled out any military application - any land or sea base" - for the land.