China pledges to open markets to Pacific Islands countries as US retreats
With the U.S. withdrawal from the largely poor but strategically contentious region, China has committed to open up its market to more products than Pacific Islands countries, increase economic assistance and increase support for its fights against climate change.
Welcoming the foreign ministers of 11 Pacific Islander countries in Xiamen, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promised to fund the fight against climate change in the region and proposed to accelerate negotiations for bilateral trade agreements, where the region can export more to China.
Since Donald Trump took office in January, the US has greatly cut foreign assistance to poor countries, raised global tariffs and withdrew from climate negotiations. This move was seen as an opportunity for China.
"China stressed that its aid does not include any political conditions, does not impose its will on others and does not make empty promises," China said in a joint statement of the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Third Sino-Pacific Islands Countries.
The meeting on Wednesday and Thursday was Wang's first meeting with these countries after the attempt to make a comprehensive security agreement with the Pacific Islands countries failed in May 2022. The proposed agreement was unsuccessful as a result of the reaction and pressure of traditionally more influential countries in the region such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.
But officials and analysts said Beijing is now trying to take advantage of the impact Trump's policies have.
Blake Johnson, analyst at the Pacific Center at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said, “They will make the most of this. China is now seen as a more reliable partner than the USA," he said.
Australian Deputy Foreign Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said, "The economic policies of the Trump administration obviously created an uncertainty."
China is increasing its official development aid for the region, which has fallen to the lowest level in recent years in 2022, and is replacing a significant part of these aids with the help of grants instead of loans.
The list of results from the meeting published by the Chinese foreign ministry included the goal of holding a new round of talks on police and law enforcement cooperation this year and mentioned the “Initiative to Strengthen the Practical Maritime Cooperation”.
Analysts said the results of the ministerial meeting were more symbolic than concrete, while the list of participants showed that Beijing was making gradual progress – from 8 to 11 in 2022.
This is a reflection of Nauru's shifting of diplomatic relations from Taiwan to China last year and the Cook Islands' rapprochement with Beijing.
According to analysts, Beijing pursues a patient and long-term policy towards Island countries.