Some have spoken of a marathon, but this tour of Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Pacific, was all about a diplomatic “blitz” after Joe Biden visits Asia and the Quad summit. For ten days, ten countries visited, and for Beijing strong proposals on the table: millions of dollars of financial aid in the form of a memorandum within the framework of the Silk Roads, a free trade agreement with access to the second-largest economy in the world. Even President Xi Jinping went there with his message of friendship, assuring that China would be a “good brother” to the island nations.

This is what the head of Chinese diplomacy has again repeated to the president of the Kiribati archipelago Taneti Maamau. ” China is the most reliable friend of developing countries, ” said the Chinese State Councilor. We will continue to firmly uphold and protect the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries, especially small and medium-sized developing countries .”

In his meeting with State Councilor and FM Wang Yi, Kiribati President and FM Taneti Maamau said the resumption of diplomatic relations between Kiribati and China shows that the world is on China’s side, and Kiribati is on the right side of history.

— Hua Chunying 华春莹 (@SpokespersonCHN) May 30, 2022

Only here, everything is not a question of size. The deal would have flopped, this time anyway. In a letter to other regional leaders quoted by AFP, the President of the Federated States of Micronesia, David Panuelo, called the draft agreement ” dishonest ” and gave too much ” economic control ” to the Chinese side. Don’t be ” too nervous and too anxious “, retorted Wang Yi to those, many in the Pacific, who want to maintain balanced relations with Beijing and Washington.