BEIJING/JAKARTA -- Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday met with his counterparts from 10 South Pacific island nations in Fiji. According to Australian media, the Chinese government presented a draft agreement that includes strengthening security cooperation, but the parties failed to reach consensus because of opposition by at least one of the participating nations. This result indicates some concerns on the part of the island nations over China's increasing influence in their region.
South Pacific island nations are positioned along sea-lanes used by the United States, Australia and Japan and are of strategic importance. According to Reuters and other media reports, China aimed to have the 10 nations sign on to the draft agreement to strengthen cooperation in a wide range of areas from security and trade to data communications. Beijing reportedly offered financial assistance in return for support of the deal.
