China diplomat lashes out at ‘ignorant’ Pacific aid critics

Critics of Beijing’s activities in the Pacific have been labelled “ignorant” and “prejudiced” in a bluntly worded newspaper article by China’s ambassador to Samoa.

Writing in the Samoa Observer on Tuesday, Chao Xiaoliang dismissed Western charges that China’s foreign aid programme created client states as inaccurate “cold war” thinking.

Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific islands was a major theme at a tense regional summit in Tuvalu last week, where Australia tried to reassert leadership in an area it traditionally regards as its sphere of influence.

Instead, Canberra faced criticism over its lack of action on climate change, with leaders such as Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama saying they preferred China’s brand of diplomacy to “condescending” Australia.

“Rather than pointing fingers at China’s good deeds, those who keep on making groundless accusations and speculations might as well do more themselves to provide help to the Pacific island countries,” Chao wrote.