China put the Pacific Islands on the geopolitical map. What comes next?
- Beijing did not get the endorsement of the regional security deal it was hoping for but ‘it’s not the end of China in the Pacific’, analyst says
- While some nations are wary of being drawn into big power politics, they might still seek to reduce ties with former colonial powers, observers say
Ten days, seven Pacific island nations and the first visit to the region by a senior Chinese official in more than two years.
The centrepiece of the trip was the discussion of a proposed security deal between Wang and the foreign ministers of 10 Pacific island nations.
So far, the Pacific Islands have refused to be drawn into a geopolitical game but might seek to reduce ties with former colonial powers by engaging with more countries, including China, regional observers say.
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China’s proposed security deal with Pacific islands falls short as Wang Yi tours region
Wang’s trip took him to Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, and included virtual talks with his counterparts from the Cook Islands and Micronesia.