US Pledges $810 Million to Pacific Islands as ‘Enduring Commitment’ to Counter Beijing’s Influence

U.S. President Joe Biden (C) and leaders from the Pacific Islands region pose for a photograph on the North Portico of the White House September 29, 2022 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 29 announced US$810 million in new funding to Pacific Island nations over the next decade as the U.S. seeks to counter Beijing’s growing influence in the region.

The meeting comes after Beijing and the Solomon Islands signed off on a security pact in April, which received strong pushback from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. Soloman Island’s prime minister Manasseh Sogavare also reportedly signalled hesitancy to sign any end-of-summit statement critical of China, according to Reuters.