China Hosts Pacific Island Nations to Bolster Diplomatic Ties

China is hosting a high-level meeting with 11 Pacific Island nations in Xiamen, China, to deepen ties and build a “closer” community with “a shared future” in the strategic region. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is chairing the meeting, which includes leaders and diplomats from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, and Samoa.

The two-day meeting aims to discuss trade, infrastructure development, poverty alleviation, sustainability, and climate change. According to Al Jazeera’s Katrina Yu, “For China, this is an opportunity to extend its influence and expand economic ties at a time when the United States is showing very little interest in this region, and we know increasingly that many of those countries are more aligned on China on things like investment, infrastructure, trade and even security assistance.”

Global Uncertainty and China’s Growing Influence

The meeting comes amid global uncertainty fueled by US President Donald Trump’s cuts to foreign aid and the threat of tariffs. Analysts say this has created an opening for China to step in. Tess Newton at the Griffith Asia Institute notes, “This lack of certainty makes the US a very challenging partner to work with. Whereas other partners including China can offer, well you know we were here yesterday, we’re here today, and we expect to be here tomorrow.”

China’s objective is to “jointly build an even closer China-Pacific Island countries community with a shared future”. Analysts believe this translates to greater economic aid, diplomatic engagement, and the pursuit of a regional security pact. China has already signed a security accord with the Solomon Islands in 2022 and deployed police to the capital, Honiara, following riots.

Security and Strategic Significance

Mihai Sora, director of the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute in Australia, says China is trying to “insert itself as a security player and in some cases through the angle of contributing to the individual security needs of Pacific countries such as policing”. The meeting in Xiamen is “an opportunity for China” to push its goals “in its own space, on its own turf and on its own terms”.

Taiwan and Regional Significance

The topic of Taiwan is also expected to be discussed, as China claims the self-ruled island as its own. China has been gradually reducing the number of countries in the Pacific that retain ties with Taiwan. Al Jazeera’s Yu notes that the region is strategically important to Beijing due to crucial shipping lanes, deep sea cables, and potential mineral deposits underwater. Militarily, the region could be significant in launching potential forward attacks on US territory or supporting US ally Australia.