Pacific Island countries, China and the US: recent geopolitical trends

Abstract

Concerns about a stronger Chinese engagement – following the unexpected security pact between China and the Solomon Islands in 2022 – rattled the US and its regional allies, Australia and New Zealand, into stepping up their engagements with the Pacific Island countries. Not unexpectedly, these island countries now find themselves beneficiaries of the competition for geopolitical influence even as they try to avoid being drawn into it.