Australia and New Zealand have worked hard to put the politically unstable and economically marginal nations of the South Pacific on a more sustainable footing over the past decade. But last week's visit by Premier Wen Jiabao to Fiji threatens to undermine these efforts.
Tired of propping up dysfunctional regimes, Australia and New Zealand now attach strings to aid for countries such as Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. But China sees these and other nearby nations as sources of economic resources such as timber, minerals and fish. Beijing is not particularly interested in good governance and economic sustainability, as much as it is in writing out big cheques to acquire fuel for the roaring fire of its economy.
Not that the mainland is alone in this style of chequebook diplomacy. Taiwan has been passing out funds among the nations of the South Pacific for a number of years. That is why six nations didn't attend the inaugural China-Pacific Islands Economic Forum in Fiji's capital, Suva, last week. The six - the Solomon Islands, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Palau and Kiribati - are all 'clients' of Taiwan.
For Canberra and Wellington, improving the functioning of Pacific island countries is vitally important. If these nations collapse, humanitarian and strategic crises will require the Australian and New Zealand governments of the day to deal with the messy consequences.
That's why, in 2003, Australia led a mission of Pacific island countries, including New Zealand, to assist in restoring political stability and security to the Solomon Islands, a nation of around half a million people.
Currently, Australia spends about A$955 million ($5.38 billion) in aid to Pacific countries annually, and is aiming to increase that to around A$4 billion by the end of the decade. But Prime Minister John Howard says that Australia's aid packages are conditional on the recipients improving governance and transparency. If Pacific island countries don't continue to fight corruption, then Australia won't help them.
Ditto for New Zealand. Wellington, along with Australia, has championed the Pacific Plan, which emphasises 'governance, sustainable development, security and economic growth'. The Pacific Plan has now been adopted by the South Pacific Forum, a regional grouping of countries that is the main vehicle for diplomacy and economic co-ordination in the region.