Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi eight nations pacific tour has started from Solomon Island. It is his first stop in the region. This visit is also important because recently China and Solomon Islands have make a deal on security (a security pact).
Wang Yi will visit Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste over the coming fortnight.
Chinese foreign minister Spokesperson, Wang Wenbing said that the trip would “further enhance the political mutual trust between China and the above countries”, “push cooperation in various fields to a new level” and “inject new impetus into the long-term development of bilateral relations.”
In China-Solomon Islands security pact, has most “good for all” clauses from humanitarian assistance to disaster response etc, but some clauses are very controversial and creates a massive concern for pacific nations like US, Australia, New Zealand. A clause in the agreement says that China can “make ship visits to, carry out logistical replacement in, and have stopover and transition in Solomon Islands,” as well as send Chinese forces to the country to “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects.”
Many media reports suggest that Beijing has planned similar agreements like Solomon Islands with around 10 countries in pacific, importantly with Kiribati, but Kiribati government has denied such media reports.
ABC Australia reported that the One pacific government official told that there had been “long and intense” negotiations over this range of visits, and that Kiribati only agreed to the visit after China applied intense pressure.
The south pacific region has now become a diplomatic arena, as Australia foreign minister Penny Wong also on a visit to Fiji. “Australia will be a partner that doesn’t come with strings attached nor imposing unsustainable financial burdens,” and “We are a partner that won’t erode Pacific priorities or Pacific institutions.” Wong said in Fiji.
This eight island nations tour of Chinese foreign minister shows the growing influence of Beijing in South Pacific region. The security pact which has been done with Solomon and could be signed with other 10 Pacific nations, is anticipated as the PLA steps into the Quad Indo-Pacific region. Beijing has always called the Quad as Asian NATO.
