Biden to host Pacific Island summit amid power struggle with China
- The first US-Pacific Island Country summit will be at the White House on September 28-29
- Biden will speak to the leaders on climate change and maritime security as Beijing expands its economic and military engagement in the region
Taking place at the White House, the first US-Pacific Island Country summit will advance “a free and open Indo-Pacific,” a statement said, employing the veiled US phrase for preventing China from dominating Asia.
Biden will also speak to the leaders on climate change – an existential issue for the islands – as well as maritime security and fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, the statement said.
“The summit will demonstrate the United States’ deep and enduring partnership with Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region that is underpinned by shared history, values and people-to-people ties,” it said.
Biden has invited Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, and Fiji to take part in the summit, according to the White House.
Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman had announced plans for the summit while visiting Tonga last month without giving the exact dates.