China responds to Pacific island rejection with paper on ‘mutual respect and common development’
- Pacific nations failed to reach consensus on a Chinese deal that reportedly included cooperation in law enforcement and cybersecurity
- Fijian PM says geopolitical point-scoring means little to anyone whose life or livelihood is threatened by rising sea levels, the pandemic or rising prices
The document – “China’s Position Paper on Mutual Respect and Common Development with Pacific Island Countries” – was published hours after a virtual summit on Monday between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his counterparts from 10 Pacific nations, as part of Beijing’s latest push for greater influence in the strategically important region.
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In the long document, China proposed to work together with the region on everything from alleviating poverty and expanding bilateral trade to protecting marine ecology and tackling climate change.
It also listed 24 actions Beijing said it was willing to take “on the basis of friendly consultations with the island countries”, which included holding regular meetings of foreign ministers and appointing a special envoy for Pacific island countries.
China would continue to send agricultural experts and help train climate change specialists for the Pacific nations. It also had plans to launch an emergency supplies reserve in the region.
Chinese airlines would be encouraged to launch flights with the nations “after the Covid-19 pandemic is effectively under control”, it said, adding that Chinese medical teams would be deployed to the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.