The Pacific – a Chinese lake?
By Jeff Kouba
Awhile back we touched on the arrangement China has entered into with the Solomon Islands, a deal which has sparked concerns that perhaps China has an eye towards an increased presence in the Pacific.
Starting today, the Chinese Foreign Minister is beginning a visit to several Pacific Island nations. From China’s Foreign Ministry:
From May 26 to June 4, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to eight countries, namely Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, and a virtual visit to the Federated States of Micronesia upon invitation. He will also hold video conference with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Cook Islands and Premier and Foreign Minister of Niue, and host the second China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Fiji.
Also today, the Chinese Foreign Minister met with his counterpart in the Solomons and outlined three principles behind their cooperation:
The first principle is to fully respect the national sovereignty of Solomon Islands. China-Solomon Islands cooperation is based on Solomon Islands’ needs and requirements, on the premise of Solomon Islands’ consent, and on the basis of equal consultation. It is never China’s foreign policy, nor is it Chinese style, to impose business deals on others, interfere in Solomon Islands’ internal affairs, or damage other countries’ interests.
The second one is to help maintain the social stability of Solomon Islands. China-Solomon Islands security cooperation includes assistance in maintaining social order, protecting lives and property in accordance with the law as well as conducting humanitarian relief and natural disaster response at the request of Solomon Islands. The aim is to help Solomon Islands strengthen police capacity-building, offset the security governance deficit and maintain domestic stability and long-lasting peace and security. China-Solomon Islands security cooperation is aboveboard and frank, not imposing on others, not targeting third parties and not intending to establish military bases.
The third one is in parallel with regional arrangements. China supports Pacific Island Countries in strengthening security cooperation and working together to address regional security challenges. China also supports the existing regional security cooperation arrangements. At the same time, China-Solomon Islands security cooperation and the existing regional arrangements complement each other, sharing the same objectives and interests. China-Solomon Islands security cooperation conforms to the common interests of Solomon Islands and the South Pacific region.
The last one is our topic for today. What “regional arrangements” are we talking about here? The AP provides some details on what China is up to:
China wants 10 small Pacific nations to endorse a sweeping agreement covering everything from security to fisheries in what one leader warns is a “game-changing” bid by Beijing to wrest control of the region.
A draft of the agreement obtained by The Associated Press shows that China wants to train Pacific police officers, team up on “traditional and non-traditional security” and expand law enforcement cooperation.
Wang is visiting seven of the countries he hopes will endorse the “Common Development Vision” — the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.
Wang is also holding virtual meetings with the other three potential signatories — the Cook Islands, Niue and the Federated States of Micronesia. He is hoping the countries will endorse the pre-written agreement as part of a joint communique after a May 30 meeting in Fiji he is holding with the foreign ministers from each of the 10 countries.
In other words, China wants to extend the arrangement it has with the Solomons to other nations in the Pacific.
This morning, US Secretary of Blinken made a speech at the Asias Society regarding the US policy towards China. One reason for this was to smooth over all the ripples in the Zen pond his boss made about Taiwan. A State Dept transcript is not yet available, but video is available here. Blinken’s remarks start at about the 50 minute mark. The VoA has a summary here.
The administration is not seeking to “decouple” from China, according to senior officials. The term refers to progressively severing economic and trade linkages between the United States and China and was often heard during the administration of former President Donald Trump.
“The secretary will make clear that the United States is not looking to sever China’s economy from ours or from the global economy,” one senior administration official said during a background call to preview Blinken’s China speech.
On Taiwan, Blinken will reiterate that Washington’s policy is not changed and that the United States remains committed to its One China policy, which has been guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three joint communiques and the six assurances.
Not exactly strong words warning China not to get too aggressive in the Pacific.
Biden was in Tokyo this past week, which is where his own mental ambiguity led to his remarks fumbling the ball on Taiwan.
China and Russia conducted a joint bomber patrol while Biden was there, a pointed diplomatic reply akin to a dog baring its fangs.
Russian and Chinese bombers flew joint patrols near Japanese and South Korea air defense zones on Tuesday in a pointed farewell to U.S. President Joe Biden as he concluded a trip to Asia that rankled Beijing.
The patrols came hours after Biden angered China by saying he would be willing to respond militarily to defend Taiwan if it came under Chinese attack, and as he discussed responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine with leaders of the Quad, which groups the United States with Australia, India and Japan.
Japan said it scrambled jets after Russian and Chinese warplanes neared its airspace while Tokyo was hosting the Quad leaders. Tokyo called the drills a provocation.
It is a dangerous world, we are led by donkeys, and China is taking advantage of our growing weakness to plant flags in the Pacific.
May 26th, 2022 at 11:32 am
It is never China’s foreign policy, nor is it Chinese style, to impose business deals on others
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaa……….
Vacuum’s gonna get filled. Truly, there is only one superpower left in the world. G*d help us all.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:06 pm
This promises to make the game quite interesting: between Sri Lanka and the Pacific Island China is really trying to assert itself on the seas. Few empires managed to do that, including the American and British ones. Neither the Russians nor the Germans ever succeeded. I wonder what lessons will China take from the historical precedents apart from the realization that it is doomed without control of the oceans.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:30 pm
Curious…
I wonder how far $40 Billion would have gone to cement long term security and mutual cooperation agreements with these island nations? I bet farther than it will go sitting in the Swiss bank accounts of Ukrainian oligarchs and politicians.
May 26th, 2022 at 12:35 pm
Few empires managed to do that, including the American and British ones.
Guessing you meant *excepting* the US and Briton….
And the Dutch, the Portuguese, the French, the Spanish….lol, you’re a fucking idiot, rAT.
May 26th, 2022 at 1:58 pm
^ Is that the best response you could muster? You must have done well in your debating society.
I recommend to everyone reading Kouba’s post to read Churchill’s History of World War II. In it, he describes what happened during the Japanese onslaught on the Far East. Appeasement had turned a blind eye to Japan’s invasion of Manchuria and its friendly relations with the Nazis and Stalin. But it was in November 1941 when the Japanese visited Washington and gave the Americans an ultimatum – allow Japan a free hand in subjugating the rest of China or face the prospect of a war against Japan. And to their enduring credit, the US told Japan to get out of China and that it would stand alongside China and defend it. And what happened then ? Two weeks later on December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. Within two months it had swept down to Singapore, then through the Pacific Islands and Indonesia until it was stopped halfway in Papua New Guinea. But it still didn’t stop them bombing Darwin, Australia’s northern capital and sinking ships right around the Australian coast. It was only the Battle of the Coral Sea, Midway and the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines which brought the Japanese Navy to a halt. Since then, there has been no military activity at all in these areas. Until now when fascist China is trying to re-do what the fascist Japanese failed to do 70 years ago.
May 26th, 2022 at 3:04 pm
In the game China is playing, the prize in the Pacific is Australia.
The Aussies know this. They also know that for China to control them, it doesn’t need to fire a shot, it just needs to control Australia’s access to trade. Australia needs the Americans to guarantee freedom of the seas.
May 26th, 2022 at 5:29 pm
rAT is channeling Pedo Joe’s 80 IQ, Haitian, spokeslesbian, lol.
Confronted with his own idiocy, he flips around in his script and pulls out a page that has nothing, whatsoever, to do with the subject of his smack down.
Don’t flatter yourself; I’m not debating you. I don’t debate witless assholes. I’m mocking you relentlessly, to the amusement of all.