China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday has told the Pacific region not to be “too anxious” about his country’s aims after a meeting in Fiji with his counterparts from 10 island nations was unable to agree to a sweeping trade and security communique.
Wang attended a conference with foreign ministers from Pacific island states with diplomatic connections to China in the middle of a diplomatic trip to the region, where Beijing's goals for stronger security ties have alarmed US allies.
China delivered a draft communiqué and five-year action plan to the invited nations ahead of the meeting, indicating that Beijing wanted a broad regional economic and security deal.
However, according to a letter released last week, the draft declaration sparked criticism from at least one of the invited nations, the Federated States of Micronesia.
Wang said the nations had agreed on five areas of cooperation after the meeting, which included Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Niue, and Vanuatu, but that more conversations were needed to build more consensus.
Economic recovery following the Covid epidemic, as well as new agricultural and disaster centers, were among the five topics he mentioned, but security was not among them.
“China will release its own position paper” highlighting “our own positions and propositions and cooperation proposals with Pacific Island countries”. He said in Fiji, adding that "going forward, we will continue to have ongoing and in-depth discussions and consultations to shape more consensus on cooperation."
Some have questioned China's motivations for becoming so involved in the Pacific islands, and Wang responded that China also supports developing countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
"Don't be too worried," he added. "The common development and prosperity of China and all other emerging countries will only imply greater harmony, greater justice, and greater progress for the entire globe."
Qian Bo, China's Ambassador to Fiji, took questions after Wang's briefing and said that participants had promised to debate the draft communique and the five-year plan "until we have reached an agreement."
"The ten countries with which we have diplomatic relations have expressed general support, although there are some reservations about specific topics."
The Pacific nations, according to Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, are pursuing consensus.
"To someone whose village is slipping beneath the rising waters, whose employment is being lost to the pandemic, or whose family is being damaged by the quick rise in commodity prices, geopolitical point-scoring means less than nothing," Bainimarama said.
China's President Xi Jinping said in a written speech to the summit that no matter how the international situation evolves, China would always be a good ally of Pacific Island countries, according to China's state-owned CCTV.
The security deal has been put on hold
After fears that the move would drive the region into "Beijing's orbit," no agreement was reached.
A virtual summit of leaders and foreign ministers was anticipated to examine plans to dramatically boost China's participation in the South Pacific's security, economy, and politics.
However, after some regional leaders expressed grave worry, the effort appeared to have fallen short.
After the meeting, co-host and Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama said, "As always, we placed consensus first," implying that broad agreement would be required before signing any "new regional agreements."
Wang is in Suva, Fiji's capital, for a 10-day diplomatic blitz as Beijing competes with Washington and its allies for influence in the strategically important Pacific.
China suggested a deal ahead of his visit that would see Beijing train Pacific Island police, expand political connections, conduct sensitive maritime mapping, and gain more access to natural resources on land and in the water.
Beijing enticed them with millions of dollars in financial aid, the potential of a China-Pacific Islands free trade pact, and access to China's 1.4 billion-strong market.
China has positioned itself as a "major developing country" that stands shoulder to shoulder with small and medium-sized nations in the South Pacific.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, President Xi Jinping addressed a message to the area before the summit, saying that China will be "a good brother" to the region and that they shared a "single destiny."
President of the Federated States of Micronesia David Panuelo, in a letter to other regional leaders, cautioned that the proposed agreement was "disingenuous" and would "guarantee Chinese influence in government" and "economic domination" of critical businesses.