Ten Pacific island states decline China-proposed security pact

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 .”

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.