China’s foreign minister tells Pacific leaders ‘don’t be too anxious’ after they reject regional security pact

Henry Puna (2nd R), secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum, holds a meeting with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi (3rd L) in Fiji's capital city of Suva as part of Wang’s marathon tour of the region. Photograph: Pacific Islands Forum/AFP/Getty Images

Pacific countries have declined to sign up to a sweeping regional economic and security deal proposed by China, after a crucial meeting of Pacific foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart on Monday.

China’s foreign minister Wang Yi is in the middle of a marathon tour of the region, visiting eight countries in 10 days, a trip that security experts have said represents a dramatic “uptick in tempo” of China’s push for influence in the region.