Nine Pacific Nations to ‘Deepen Exchanges’ With Beijing

This picture taken shows flags from the Pacific Islands countries being displayed in Yaren on the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on Sept. 5, 2018. Mike Leyral/AFP via Getty Images

Leaders from nine Pacific Island nations have vowed to deepen their relationship with Beijing, fight the pandemic, and continue collaborating on major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The pledge comes amid an ongoing tug-of-war between Beijing and democratic allies in the South Pacific region.

In late May, top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials held a virtual summit called the Pacific Island Countries—China Political Leadership Dialogue attended by the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Niuē, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Cook Islands.

Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CCP, chaired the meeting and read a letter from Chinese leader Xi Jinping before conveying the Chinese regime’s gratitude to the Island nations’ for their “valuable support” of Beijing’s interests.

The International Liaison Department is controlled by the Central Committee—one of the most powerful political organs in China—and is tasked with “gathering intelligence on foreign politicians and political parties,” according to China expert Anne-Marie Brady.

This undated photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on November 21, 2017, shows Song Tao (C), head of China's International Liaison Department, at Mangyongdae Revolutionary School in Pyongyang, North Korea.
AFP Photo/KCNA via KNS/AFP/Getty Images

Song added that the Chinese regime would continue to strengthen the development strategies of the Pacific nations and jointly expand the BRI to grow trade, according to Chinese state-run media.

The Pacific leaders, in turn, “warmly congratulated” the CCP for reaching the 100th anniversary of its founding (1921) and commended the Chinese authorities for assisting the Islands in fighting the CCP virus (also known as the novel coronavirus).

In attendance were Prime Ministers James Marape (Papua New Guinea), Frank Bainimarama (Fiji), Manasseh Sogavare (Solomon Islands), Pohiva Tui‘i’onetoa (Tonga), Bob Loughman (Vanuatu), and Presidents Taneti Maamau (Kiribati) and David Panuelo (Federated States of Micronesia). Representatives of the Cook Islands were also present.

The leaders vowed to continue developing close relations with Beijing, deepen exchanges on governance issues, and adhere strictly to the one-China policy—a policy that Beijing claims gives the CCP control over Taiwan.