US, Japan and allies form new Pacific group to blunt China’s influence

Australia, New Zealand and the UK are also part of the Partners in the Blue Pacific forum that will help Pacific island nations tackle challenges like climate change

The US intends to invite related foreign ministers later this year to review progress amid concerns about Beijing’s growing clout in the region

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) greets his East Timorese counterpart Adaljiza Magno during his Pacific trip in Dili on June 3. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:35pm, 25 Jun 2022

The United States, Japan, Australia, Britain and New Zealand on Friday launched a new initiative to step up engagement with Pacific island countries, as China seeks to boost economic and defence cooperation with them.

Under a mechanism named “Partners in the Blue Pacific,” the five countries said they will pursue “more effective and efficient” ways to deal with challenges such as “growing pressure on the rules-based free and open international order.”

“As our countries – Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States – continue to support prosperity, resilience, and security in the Pacific, we too must harness our collective strength through closer cooperation,” they said in a statement.

The statement indicated areas for potential cooperation with Pacific island countries, such as Fiji, Micronesia and Tonga, including climate change, transport, maritime security, health and education.

The US and its allies like Japan have been alarmed by China’s moves to bolster its influence in the Pacific, such as by signing a security pact with the Solomon Islands in April.

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