China names special envoy to Pacific Islands as rivalry with US heats up in region

Qian Bo, the Chinese ambassador to Fiji, takes on title reserved for most pressing diplomatic issues, such as climate change and the Middle East

Beijing and Washington are competing for influence over the island nations in trade, investment, security and diplomacy

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Qian Bo has been named the first special envoy of the Chinese government for Pacific Islands affairs. Photo: Handout

Published: 9:00pm, 19 Feb 2023

China has named a special envoy to fill a new role in its Pacific Islands diplomacy as it competes with the United States for influence in the region.

Qian Bo, China’s ambassador to Fiji since 2018, was appointed as the first special envoy of the Chinese government on Pacific Islands affairs, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced on Wednesday.

Wang said Beijing hoped Qian could enhance exchanges and cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations and work to promote the development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

The new post is an upgrade from Beijing’s special envoy to the China-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Dialogue – a position that has existed since the 2000s. The PIF is a regional organisation that includes Pacific Island nations as well as Australia and New Zealand.

China only appoints permanent special envoys for regions or issues of particular interest or concern, such as the Korean peninsula, Horn of Africa, Middle East, Afghanistan, Syria and climate change.

Some of them, such as the representative for the Horn of Africa, hold the title “special envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”, as they typically focus on traditional diplomatic matters.

Unlike the previous role for the PIF, the new title is “special envoy of the Chinese government”.