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China’s ambitions loom as US-led Pacific group prioritises climate change
- White House official says Partners in the Blue Pacific will be guided by island countries’ needs, with focus on environment and technology
- Canada and Germany said to be joining the regional partnership, which also includes Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Britain
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China’s ambitions in the Pacific are a concern for some Pacific Island leaders, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Thursday, but a growing US partnership with allies in the region aims to address issues such as climate change, health and technology links.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier hosted a meeting with foreign ministers from the Partners in the Blue Pacific – a group formed in June that includes the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Britain.
US officials briefing reporters on the meeting said Canada and Germany intended to formally join the initiative, which seeks to coordinate help to the strategically vital region in the face of competition from China.
“I think as we’ve seen in some instances, clearly China has ambitions in the Pacific, some of which have caused concern among Pacific Island leaders,” Campbell said. But he said the group’s agenda would be guided by Pacific Island countries’ needs.
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“When we engage with Pacific Islanders, one of the first things that they say is that for us national security really involves our environment and how climate change is an existential issue for them,” Campbell said.
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The Blue Pacific event, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, comes ahead of a summit US President Joe Biden plans to host with Pacific Island leaders from September 28 to 29.
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