CASE STUDY: CHINA IN SOUTH PACIFIC REGION

CASE STUDY: CHINA IN SOUTH PACIFIC REGION

It is undeniable that China's influence worldwide is increasing rapidly because of the excellent approach. Over the last two decades, China has steadily built its influence in the South Pacific. In this case, we can presume that China regards the Pacific region as a strategic asset and intends to replace the United States as a superpower in the long run. Back in history, a first visit to the region was recorded in April 2006; Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Fiji and inaugurated the China-Pacific Economic Development and Cooperation Forum. Similarly, Xi Jinping became the first Chinese President to visit Fiji in November 2004, and the purpose of his visit was to elevate China's friendly and cooperative relationship with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to a strategic partnership. This strategy was to demonstrate Beijing's growing emphasis on this region.?

To support, China uses a soft power approach to the region by providing aid to support PICs' economic development and treating them as equal partners. For instance, Chinese aid to PICs has increased rapidly, with a total of US$1.45 billion by November 2013, according to Vice Premier Wang Yang. Besides, as refer recent research conducted by the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney emphasized that China's cumulative aid to the Pacific region reached US$1.78 billion from 2006 onward. From the data, we can see that China built solid diplomatic efforts with the region with the hope that it can gain full support for the 'One China' policy. Furthermore, in return, they also did not want to lose anything. By China's interest at their request, PICs such as Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea have also voiced support for China over the South China Sea dispute.

Besides, we look at the main issue right here, which is why China needs to increase the relations with the South Pacific region. In this case, China's core interests in the South Pacific region increase their influence with the economic aspect and rise for regional powers. China viewed the South Pacific region as a strategic area known for its pristine beaches, geographic and cultural diversity, and unique development challenges. Despite their famous relaxed atmosphere beaches, they also among the most exposed to natural disasters in the world, a threat that is further exacerbated by climate change. These factors combine to prove the Pacific one of the most fragile regions in the world and the most aid-dependent. Thus, this was led to why China gave a significant amount of aid support for their economic development.?

In addition, China-Taiwan rivalry for diplomatic allies in the region also may lead to a reason why China needs to increase its influence over the South Pacific region. This is because China has long demanded that no country it has diplomatic allegiances with can recognize Taiwan. The facts the Solomon Islands and Kiribati become the latest Pacific nations to switch their faithfulness to China. Since early 2016, the relationship between China and Taiwan has worsened rapidly, and their diplomatic competition has resumed. Several countries switched their diplomatic relations to China, and China has also tightened its rein on Taiwan's multilateral diplomacy. To sum up, with its greater economic capacity and status as the formal representatives of China at the United Nations (UN), China has advantages against Taiwan in this battle. It is likely to integrate relations with its current eight PIC diplomatic partners and attract some of Taiwan's diplomatic partners.

Furthermore, China also strives for cooperation with other countries that share common interests in maintaining regional stability and promoting development. Countries that being dominant in traditional powers and enormous non-traditional power in the region, such as China, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, are needed to conduct a dialogue to maintain a good image to other countries. For instance, the two sides have held regular policy dialogues on the Pacific, including the US-China Strategic & Economic Dialogue, Australia-China Foreign & Strategic Dialogue, and the Political Consultation between the two foreign ministries of China and New Zealand.?

In conclusion, this case study has examined China's main interests in the South Pacific region and its main ways to maintain and expand these interests. From all aspects that have been covered, it argues that the Taiwan issue is China's notable core interest in the Pacific. In contrast, the other elements, including commercial and strategic interests, are not prominent compared with regions such as Africa and Asia. Besides, China will continue its global outreach when China keeps on the right track of its economic growth. However, this region will not be near the top of the agenda for Chinese diplomacy in the foreseeable future.?