HONIARA (Solomon Islands), May 25 — China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, with one regional leader...
HONIARA , May 25 — China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, with one regional leader calling it a thinly veiled effort to lock them into"Beijing's orbit".
It would offer ten small island states millions of dollars in Chinese assistance, the prospect of a China-Pacific Islands free trade agreement and access to China's lucrative market of 1.4 billion people. The"comprehensive development vision" is believed to be up for approval when Wang meets regional foreign ministers on May 30 in Fiji.In a stark letter to fellow Pacific leaders, Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo warned the agreement seems"attractive" at first glance, but would allow China to"acquire access and control of our region".
The South Pacific is increasingly a theatre for competition between China and the United States -- which has been the primary power in the region for the last century.
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