The United States, along with its regional allies, is intensifying its engagement with these nations due to concerns about China’s expanding presence in the Pacific area
The United States has officially recognized The Cook Islands and Niue Island in the Pacific Ocean as “Independent and Sovereign States.” This move is seen as a deliberate effort to exert additional influence in the region and place added pressure on China.
President Joe Biden, in a bid to reaffirm Washington’s dedication to the Pacific island nations, once again convened leaders from the region at the White House. This represents a significant strategy to counter China’s expanding presence in this strategically vital area.
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US-Pacific Partnership Strategy
The U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy, as outlined by President Joe Biden on Monday, involves the formal recognition of two island states. This move, according to Biden, aims to foster a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, it is expected to address issues such as illegal fishing and climate change in the area, ultimately paving the way for economic development.
These initiatives include providing nearly $200 million in additional support for new climate, security, and economic projects, as well as expanding the United States’ diplomatic presence in the region.
The summit appears to address some concerns raised by Pacific island nations regarding perceived inadequate support from the United States and China’s increasing influence in the region. Jeffrey Hornung, a senior political scientist at the Rand Corporation think tank, commented that the United States now seems to be responsive to the Pacific Islands’ needs, covering critical issues like climate change, connectivity, development assistance, and marine awareness through a range of new programs and initiatives.
However, there are lingering questions about whether these new initiatives will suffice to prevent some nations from gravitating further into China’s sphere of influence. These countries must balance their commitment to addressing the pressing issue of climate change while maintaining their “friend of all, enemy of none” foreign policy stance.
Concerns over the Expanding Influence of China
The United States, along with its regional allies, is intensifying its engagement with these nations due to concerns about China’s expanding presence in the area. A senior official from the Biden administration emphasized the need to maintain a strategic focus on countering China’s regional assertiveness and influence. Before the summit, the official stated that Washington is committed to demonstrating to Pacific island nations that the U.S. and like-minded partners can offer viable alternatives.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in Chinese economic and diplomatic activities in the region, including a controversial security agreement with the Solomon Islands last year. This agreement has raised concerns about the Solomon Islands shifting closer to China’s sphere of influence.
As an apparent indication of China’s influence and the United States’ disapproval, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, who declined to sign the U.S. Trans-Pacific Partnership strategy last year, did not attend Monday’s summit, despite participating in the UN General Assembly in New York the previous week.
“This aligns with a broader pattern of his government’s cautious approach to U.S. reengagement in the Pacific. For instance, they denied permission for U.S. Coast Guard assets to dock in August 2022, while still maintaining strong ties with more established Western partners, such as Australia,” noted Henry Storey, a political risk analyst based in the United States.
US’s Actions
As part of efforts to enhance Washington’s involvement in the region, one of President Biden’s initial actions on Monday was to declare the formal establishment of diplomatic relations with two nations in the area: the New and Cook Islands. Additionally, plans were unveiled to inaugurate a U.S. embassy in Vanuatu early next year.
The administration also introduced initiatives aimed at strengthening trade ties and promoting economic development. These initiatives encompass the creation of a new microloan facility to support small businesses and the initiation of multimillion-dollar infrastructure projects, including an undersea cable project designed to enhance Internet connectivity.
When the Focus Shifts to Climate Change and Other Challenges also
However, for most of these nations, climate change stands as their most imminent and dire threat, with some facing the risk of becoming uninhabitable in the next few decades due to rising sea levels. To address this critical issue, Washington has pledged over $20 million to new initiatives, pending congressional approval for some.
Experts contend that the fundamental objective of the meeting for Washington was to position itself and its allies as primary security partners in the region. As an example, President Biden revealed earlier this year the deployment of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, marking the first dedicated U.S. ship for training alongside Pacific island nations. He also discussed plans to provide maritime domain awareness technology valued at $11.4 million to these island nations.
Furthermore, the White House disclosed its intention to proceed with the renegotiation of the Compact of Free Association security agreement with the Marshall Islands, as the current term is set to conclude soon.
While Washington renewed similar agreements with Palau and Micronesia in May, along with plans to upgrade military facilities in those areas, it has yet to reach a new agreement with the Marshall Islands. The Marshall Islands has requested additional funding to address the legacy of U.S. nuclear testing in the 1940s and 1950s.
In addition to addressing climate change, promoting economic development, and safeguarding fisheries, the leaders’ top priority was ensuring the continuity of Washington’s commitments.
Overview of these Two Islands
Niue, the world’s largest coral island, is a self-governing island state with a free association with New Zealand. Situated in the South Pacific Ocean within Polynesia, it is predominantly inhabited by Polynesians. Covering a land area of approximately 261.46 square kilometers (100.95 sq mi), Niue had a population of 1,689 according to the 2022 Census. Positioned in a triangular area between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands, Niue lies 2,400 kilometers (1,500 mi) northeast of New Zealand and 604 kilometers (375 mi) northeast of Tonga. While the combined population of these two islands is close to 20,000, their territorial waters encompass a vast portion of the southern Pacific Ocean.
The Cook Islands, a nation in the South Pacific, maintains political ties with New Zealand. It comprises 15 islands scattered across a wide expanse. The largest island, Rarotonga, boasts rugged mountains and serves as the national capital, with Avarua being its center. To the north, Aitutaki Island features a vast lagoon surrounded by coral reefs and small sandy islets, making it renowned for numerous snorkeling and scuba-diving sites.
Although self-governing, the Cook Islands have relied on New Zealand for foreign and defense policies. This region of the Pacific Ocean was historically inconspicuous in global politics for some time. However, in recent years, the South Pacific region has gained substantial importance in the power rivalry between the United States and China, with China’s economic, military, and political interests growing significantly.
In conclusion, President Biden’s announcement of recognizing these two island states signifies a commitment to expanding U.S. engagement in the Pacific. Simultaneously, the primary objective of this acknowledgment is to diminish the increasing sway of China. The discussed initiatives, encompassing climate change mitigation, combating illegal fishing, and investing in public health and economic development, demonstrate the United States’ determination to strengthen ties and address regional concerns.
