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China deepens ties with Pacific Island nations through high-level summit
China is hosting a significant diplomatic summit with 11 Pacific Island nations as part of its strategy to strengthen regional relations and promote what it describes as a "closer community with a shared future." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is leading the talks in Xiamen, joined by Kiribati’s President Taneti Maamau and senior officials from countries including Niue, Tonga, Nauru, Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Fiji, and Samoa.
This marks the third such meeting, but the first to be held in person in China. Over two days, leaders will focus on trade, infrastructure, poverty reduction, sustainable development, and climate change.
According to Al Jazeera's correspondent in Beijing, Katrina Yu, the summit is a strategic move by China to expand its influence in a region where U.S. engagement has been waning. Many of these Pacific nations are increasingly aligning with Beijing on issues such as investment, development projects, trade, and security cooperation.
The backdrop of the summit includes global uncertainty driven by former U.S. President Donald Trump’s reduction in foreign aid and rising trade tensions. Experts suggest this has created an opportunity for China to present itself as a consistent and committed partner. “While the U.S. appears unpredictable, China offers long-term engagement,” said Tess Newton of the Griffith Asia Institute.
China’s foreign ministry emphasized that the summit’s purpose is to enhance a unified China-Pacific Island community. Analysts view this as part of Beijing’s broader plan to deepen economic ties, pursue security agreements, and boost diplomatic presence in the Pacific.
China has already taken steps in this direction. It signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands in 2022, following unrest in the capital Honiara, and deployed police forces there. Chinese advisers have also been dispatched to Vanuatu and Kiribati, with intentions to replicate similar security arrangements in other Pacific states.
Mihai Sora from Australia’s Lowy Institute noted that China is positioning itself as a key security contributor in the Pacific, particularly through policing and public safety initiatives.
The summit in Xiamen also serves China’s broader geopolitical goals, taking place near Taiwan—an island China claims as its own. Discussions are likely to touch on Taiwan, especially given China’s success in persuading countries like Nauru to sever ties with Taipei. Only three Pacific countries—Marshall Islands, Palau, and Tuvalu—still maintain formal relations with Taiwan.
Despite the small size and limited populations of many Pacific nations, the region holds enormous strategic value. It encompasses vital maritime routes, undersea communication cables, deep-sea ports, and potential mineral resources. Its geographic position could be pivotal in any future military tensions, particularly involving the U.S. or its ally Australia, which lies nearby.