It is no secret that China wants to increase its influence in the Pacific region. To do this, Beijing is promoting the signing of a new agreement with a dozen island nations, which would exponentially increase its weight in fields such as security, trade or technology. Aspirations that raise the alarm of Western countries such as the United States and Australia or some leaders in the region, who see this Chinese expansion as a threat to their stability.
According to the draft leaked to the media, the text establishes a much closer relationship between Beijing and those nations, especially in matters related to security. In this sense, China proposes to actively participate in the training and training of regional police forces, in cyber security or the formulation of rules for global data governance.
The Asian giant is also committed to increasing investment in infrastructure, energy, mining or fishing, improving regional internet networks or greater cultural cooperation in the next five years. He also mentions the possibility of establishing a free trade zone with the Pacific nations or participating in a marine mapping plan.
The Chinese proposal became known at the time that its Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, began a tour of the region at the head of a 20-member delegation. In the coming days, they are scheduled to visit in person seven of the pact's target nations - Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea - and hold virtual meetings with three other potential signatories: the Cook Islands, Niue and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Wang's objective would be for all of them to support the "Common Development Vision" (title of the agreement) during the meeting that he will hold next Monday in Fiji with the foreign ministers of the ten aforementioned nations.
Traditionally Australia's zone of influence, China's interest in the region has grown in recent years as its economic, political and military weight increases. Thanks to its abundant funds, Beijing has established several bilateral trade agreements with impoverished nations in the area. In return, it has reaped political gains -Kiribati and the Solomon Islands recently severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan in their favor- and greater access to vast ocean areas.
His last blow of effect came in April, when the signing of a security agreement with the Solomon Islands was revealed. The pact, which allows the archipelago to request the sending of Chinese troops, made Canberra and Washington suspect that its ultimate goal is to establish a Chinese military base on the island territory. Beijing denies it, but there is no doubt that the pact empowers it even more on the geostrategic board of the South Pacific, the last stage of the struggle between the two superpowers of the 21st century.
As expected, the US showed its displeasure with the Chinese project. From Washington, State Department spokesman Ned Price expressed his concern and pointed out that Beijing could use this initiative to take advantage of the islands and destabilize the region. As he explained, they fear that the possible agreement will be negotiated in a "hasty and non-transparent" manner and fuel tensions and concerns about the expansion of the Chinese security apparatus in the Pacific.
The news also provoked a reaction from Australia. This Thursday, the new prime minister, Anthoy Albanese, affirmed that his country must "respond" to Chinese movements to gain influence in a region "where Australia has been the security partner of choice since World War II."
To this end, its Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, traveled to Fiji today to demonstrate the importance they attach to their bilateral relationship. Australia is "a partner that does not come with strings attached" and that will not "impose unsustainable financial burdens", assured the chancellor in the island nation, a veiled reference to the agreements championed by Beijing
But not all criticism came from outside. In a letter to the 21 leaders of the area, the president of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo, warned that Chinese expansion plans threaten regional stability and could trigger a new "cold war" between Beijing and the West. of which they could be collateral victims.
In his opinion, greater Chinese control over communication infrastructures, maritime territory in the area, natural resources and the security space would have "impacts on our sovereignty" and increase the chances that China "comes into conflict with Australia, Japan, the United States and New Zealand.
