Pacific island states mull China security deal as Beijing tries to deepen ties
- South Pacific nations hold off endorsing Beijing’s plans that would have seen closer cooperation in fighting crime and ‘traditional and non-traditional’ security
- Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier told foreign ministers that Beijing would be a ‘good friend, good brother and good partner’ to the islands
China will always be “a good friend, a good brother and a good partner” to the Pacific islands, President Xi Jinping said as Beijing pushed for further engagement with the strategically important region under the watchful eye of the United States and its allies.
In a written address to the senior officials at the second China-Pacific Islands Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Monday, Xi said: “China has always insisted on the equality of all countries, large and small, and has developed friendly relations with the Pacific island countries based on the correct concept of justice and benefit and the concept of genuine goodwill.
“No matter how the international situation changes, to the Pacific island nations, China has always been a good friend that shares the same vision, a good brother in the same boat and a good partner who walks side by side.”
This was the first time a Chinese leader had delivered a written address to the meeting, which Xi described as “an important platform … to strengthen dialogue, enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation”.
He said it was the “common aspiration” and “shared responsibility” for people in the Asia-Pacific region to maintain peace and stability, adding that China was willing to work to build a “community with a shared future”.
