"Pacific governments are relishing their place in the sun," said Gordon Peake, a senior adviser for the Pacific Islands at the United States Institute of Peace. "'Friends to all, enemies to none' is the informal foreign policy mantra of most Pacific nations and they're sticking to it, to great net effect." Beijing sought a sweeping trade and security deal with Pacific nations last year but it was rejected, signalling the islands' wish to not give too much sovereignty away. But Washington warns China's soft loans could leave Pacific islands wracked with debt and beholden to Beijing. Experts warn world powers circling the Pacific they must tread carefully if they want to gain the influence they crave.

Source: Daily Nation May 19, 2023 18:39 UTC