While the United States is busy shifting its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region, China is also trying to take full control of strategically important islands in the South Pacific. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi started a visit to countries in the South Pacific region from May 26 to June 4, asking the 10 island nations to sign a regional security cooperation agreement prepared in advance by China, including policing, security, data communications and maritime fisheries and other fields.
The US State Department warned island nations to beware of China’s “shadow” deal, stressing that the introduction of Chinese security forces would only increase regional tensions and would not help any island nation.
China’s move has sparked concerns in the United States and its allies in the region, Australia and New Zealand, as well as in the Pacific island nation of Micronesia, which fears China could take full control of the region and change the way the region is governed. “game rules”. In addition, Fiji, which is considered to be the main force of anti-Australia and New Zealand traditional forces in this region, this time followed Australia and New Zealand and announced on the 26th to join the Indo-Pacific economic framework led by the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, setting a precedent for Pacific island countries. .
Wang Yi’s trip is scheduled to hold a meeting with the foreign ministers of 10 Pacific island countries on the 30th and ask them to sign a prepared security agreement. A leaked draft agreement shows that China plans to cooperate with 10 Pacific island nations in “traditional and non-traditional security” areas, including training police officers, expanding law enforcement cooperation; strengthening cooperation in operating the region’s Internet networks; Cultural Confucius Institutes and classrooms, etc.
In addition, China will work with these countries to develop a marine fishery plan, including fishing for tuna, which is abundant in the South Pacific, which has the largest and most lucrative tuna fishery in the world. The United States signed the South Pacific Tuna Treaty with Australia, New Zealand and 14 Pacific island nations as early as 1988, allowing U.S. fishing vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of other contracting parties, but the treaty needs to be extended this year.
But Micronesia has made it clear that it does not intend to sign the agreement. The country has previously signed a security pact with the United States and an economic pact with China.
In a letter to other Pacific island leaders, President David Panuelo warned that it would unnecessarily increase geopolitical tensions and threaten stability in the region, saying the deal was “in the middle of nowhere.” The single most game-changing proposal we’ve ever made in the Pacific region.”
State Department spokesman Ned Price (Ned Price) said on the 26th that China may use these island countries through the agreement and destabilize the region.
Australia’s new foreign minister Penny Wong, who was visiting Fiji at the same time, also said on the 27th: “The world has changed, there is more strategic competition, and international rules have been broken more.” She told the Solomon Islands last week. I am deeply concerned about the consequences of the security agreement signed with China in May.
Professor Anne-Marie Brady, an expert on China issues and Pacific issues at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, said in an interview with Radio New Zealand (RNZ) on the 26th: “Pacific island countries need to control the throat. Roads and communication sea lanes are very useful. China has been trying to find sites in the region for ports, airports and communication cables for many years, which are all part of China’s military agenda in the Pacific.”
She believes that China’s activities in the Pacific island countries will draw the entire region into a larger geopolitical conflict. “As happened in World War II, a malicious force trying to change the existing order, they need to dominate some key countries, just to surround and block the area,” Brady said.
She cited the Solomon Islands, which signed a security agreement with China last month, as an example. When regional tensions and turmoil occurred, “foreign malicious forces took the opportunity to control the Solomon Islands, as well as Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Kiribati and other Pacific island countries. , which could lead to a blockade of sea routes and affect the security of the entire region.”
The White House issued a statement on the 26th saying that it welcomes Fiji as the 14th founding country and the head of the Pacific Island countries to join the Indo-Pacific economic framework dominated by the United States in the Indo-Pacific region, and called Fiji “a close partner of the United States and a leader in the region.” ,” would “add significant value and perspective to the framework.”
Brady tweeted on the matter on the 27th: “It’s nice to see (the United States and its allies) form a united front to confront China’s ‘united front’.” China’s so-called “united front” refers overseas to attracting and using All possible local forces are used to infiltrate and influence foreign political and business circles.
In his April 20 op-ed, Brady provides a detailed analysis of how China is using its maritime “Belt and Road” to extend southward in an attempt to influence and infiltrate South Pacific island nations and gain access to their military-important airports and ports.