The U.S. Coast Guard patrol ship USS Myrtle Hazard.Figure: Retrieved from Wikipedia
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pacific island countries on May 26 to promote security and economic cooperation between Beijing and South Pacific countries. Solomon Islands is the first stop of its visit. At the request of the Solomon Islands, the US Coast Guard has mobilized patrol ships to patrol the exclusive economic zone of the island country, strengthening Washington’s long-term commitment to the region.
According to CNN’s report today (3), the U.S. Coast Guard deployed the patrol ship “Myrtle Hazard” to patrol the island nation after learning that a police ship in the Solomon Islands needed repairs. “The U.S. fleet helped fill in needed operations through maritime surveillance to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the northern Solomon Islands,” a Coast Guard press release said.
The Solomon Islands are one of several Pacific island nations assisted by the United States in Operation Blue Pacific, which also includes Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea.
China has proposed a comprehensive regional security and economic deal with some Pacific island nations, the report said. The agreement covers a range of areas including education and health. Wang Yi’s meeting with foreign ministers from 10 Pacific island nations in Fiji on May 30 ended without the signing of the proposed agreement.
“Don’t be too anxious and don’t be too nervous, because the common development and prosperity of China and all other developing countries will only mean harmony, justice and progress for the entire world,” Wang Yi said.
“CNN” pointed out that the US Coast Guard is of great significance and is part of the Indo-Pacific strategy released by the Biden administration in February. The strategy’s action plan said: “We will expand the US Coast Guard in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Island presence and cooperation with a focus on advice, training, deployment and capacity building.” The Coast Guard’s website shows that over the past two years, patrol ships have spent hundreds of days and thousands of miles helping Pacific island nations .
One of the key parts of Washington’s influence in the region is through the “shipping agreements” signed with 11 Pacific nations, including the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Naau Lu, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Colin S. Rajaratnam is a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore. Collin Koh pointed out that the U.S. Coast Guard’s relationships with Pacific island nations have deep roots. “It is difficult for Beijing to replicate this institutionalized web of defense and security relationships.”
Retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of operations at the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center Carl. Carl Schuster also said the Coast Guard has “almost perfect relationships” with Pacific island nations, saying: “You can’t underestimate the importance of the Coast Guard to the relationship between the Central and Western Pacific.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pacific island countries on May 26 to promote security and economic cooperation between Beijing and South Pacific countries.
The Solomon Islands is the first stop of its visit, and the US Coast Guard responds to the request of the Solomon Islands
Patrol vessels have been mobilized to patrol the island nation’s exclusive economic zone, reinforcing Washington’s longstanding commitment to the region.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently visiting the South Pacific region. The picture shows Wang Yi and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele holding a joint press conference. Photo: Dazhi Image/Associated Press (file photo)