After almost three decades, the U.S. has reopened its embassy in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.
“[The opening] symbolizes a renewal of our relationship and underlines the strength of our commitment to our bilateral relations, the people of Solomon Islands, and our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region,” said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
The American embassy in the Pacific island nation was closed in 1993 “amid shifting diplomatic priorities.” But the focus is back on the region as China moves aggressively to pursue diplomatic and security ties with the Pacific Islands. Washington had announced plans to reopen the embassy soon after leaked reports laid bare China’s secret security pact with the Solomon Islands.
The Biden administration is taking concrete steps to ward off China’s influence and expansionist military plans, especially in the Pacific. Beijing has pressured smaller trade partners, like the Solomon Islands, to disengage with Taiwan. Beijing’s efforts to isolate Taipei are part of its “reunification” strategy. Besides diplomacy, China relies on trade with the island for resources. The bilateral trade between China and Pacific Island countries was pegged at USD 5.3 billion in 2021. For many of these small nation-states, China is their biggest trading partner.
But things could be changing. Last year, the White House hosted the first-ever U.S.- Pacific Island Country Summit. Sweeping agreements were signed, and partnership goals were set covering various domains, from economic and infrastructure development to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting democracy. Washington’s “engaging with Pacific neighbors” thrust is a calculated strategy to boost diplomatic ties in its backyard and hold off China’s advances.
Though the developing nations can ill afford to turn down seemingly lucrative opportunities like the ones offered by Beijing and Chinese state-owned companies, many are aware and wary of the pitfalls of such ventures. China’s dual-purpose infrastructure projects and “debt trap” diplomacy have already claimed another island nation, Sri Lanka, as its victim.
Given a choice, many would instead align and engage with historical allies like the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. Australia’s “Pacific Step-up” policy and Washington’s renewed focus on the region already bear fruit.
Last year, China failed to secure cooperation from ten Pacific countries for an ambitious deal that “had the potential to change the regional order.” The proposed agreement covered various issues, from cyber-security to Chinese-funded police training facilities, and promised more cultural links. Fiji, one of the most influential Pacific islands, recently stated its intentions to pursue stronger ties with its “traditional partners,” Australia and New Zealand. The island nation has also decided to cancel a police training program with China.
It is more than just the Pacific that Washington is keen to secure and fortify. The U.S. signed an agreement with the Philippines giving its forces access to four additional military bases, raising the number to nine. The enhanced presence will “enable it to better monitor Chinese activity in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.” America can access the bases for joint training, store equipment, and supplies, and build facilities. Such facilities will be crucial in defending Taiwan should China move to attack the island territory.
Taking such concrete steps in China’s backyard sends a clear signal to Beijing. The Pacific has always been of strategic interest to China. Its efforts to cultivate diplomatic and trade ties have yielded mixed results. America’s renewed focus in the region is giving the small nations an option to move away from China’s sphere of influence and avoid the pitfalls of aligning with Beijing.
TIPP Picks
National Issues
Daily Caller News Foundation
Daily Caller News Foundation
Issues & Insights Editorial Board
Lawrence Kudlow
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics And Geoeconomics
#1. Ukraine War: 80 Years On, We Are Facing German Tanks Again – Putin – BBC
Vladimir Putin has compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the fight against Nazi Germany in a speech to mark the 80th anniversary of the conclusion of the Battle of Stalingrad.
Citing Germany’s decision to send tanks to Ukraine, the Russian president said history was repeating itself.
Speaking in Volgograd – the modern name for Stalingrad – Mr. Putin hinted that he could seek to move beyond conventional weapons.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to elaborate on Mr. Putin’s comments but did tell reporters that “as new weapons are delivered by the collective West, Russia will make greater use of its potential to respond.”
#2. Russia’s Lavrov Says U.S. ‘Directly Participated’ In Nord Stream Explosions – Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov provided no evidence for his claim. President Vladimir Putin has previously accused Britain of blowing up the pipelines, which London denied.
In an interview on state TV, Lavrov also said the West was lying about Russia’s refusal to negotiate over Ukraine and was trying to turn Moldova, Georgia, and former Soviet states in Central Asia against Moscow.
#3. “Not Ruling Out” Sending Jets To Ukraine, Says UK Minister – AFP
The UK defense minister, Ben Wallace, said he did not rule out supplying Ukraine with fighter jets while cautioning they would not be a “magic wand” in the war.
“On the process of jets, I’ve been pretty clear. One thing I’ve learned over the last year is don’t rule anything in, don’t rule anything out,” he told journalists. His comments came after Downing Street had appeared to rule out sending its combat planes.
Kyiv has requested American-made F-16 warplanes to help repel the Russian invasion.
The United States has ruled out any deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine, but other partners, including Poland, have shown themselves more open to the idea.
#4. Von Der Leyen Promises 10th Package Of Russian Sanctions In Visit To Kyiv – Euronews
The pledge by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was made during a high-profile visit to Kyiv.
Fifteen European Commissioners met with their Ukrainian counterparts to deepen cooperation and legislative alignment.
“By 24 February, exactly one year since the invasion started, we aim to have the tenth package of sanctions in place.” von der Leyen said.
Von der Leyen did not give details on what sectors or exports will be targeted.
#5. Pentagon Tracking Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Flying Over ‘Sensitive’ Sites On American Soil – tippinsights
The Department of Defense is tracking a suspected high-altitude Chinese surveillance balloon that appears to be collecting data on sensitive U.S. sites, multiple defense officials said Thursday.
The spy balloon’s discovery comes amid heightening concerns over Beijing’s efforts to monitor the activities of the U.S. armed forces. In November, the Federal Communications Commission banned new imports of Chinese-owned telecommunications equipment, including the equipment suspected of surveilling sensitive U.S. military sites.
#6. CIA Chief Warns Against Underestimating Xi’s Ambitions Toward Taiwan – Reuters
U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns said that the United States knew “as a matter of intelligence” that Xi had ordered his military to be ready to invade self-governed Taiwan by 2027.
Burns said that Chinese President Xi Jinping’s ambitions toward Taiwan should not be underestimated despite his likely being sobered by the performance of Russia’s military in Ukraine.
Russia and China signed a “no limits” partnership last February, shortly before Russian forces invaded Ukraine, and their economic links have boomed as Russia’s connections with the West have shriveled.
The Russian invasion had fueled concerns in the West of China possibly making a similar move on Taiwan, a democratic island Beijing says is its territory.
#7. Japan, China Agree To Hold Talks “At All Levels” To Improve Ties – Kyodo News
Japanese FM Yoshimasa Hayashi aired “serious concern” over intensifying Chinese military activities near Japan during 50-minute phone talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang.
He added that Japanese public opinion on Beijing is “extremely severe.”
It was the first conversation between the two foreign ministers since Qin, a former ambassador to the United States, took the post in late December, succeeding Wang Yi.
Hayashi and Qin pledged to work together to realize “constructive and stable relations,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said, when the bilateral relationship remains precarious over issues such as the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
The Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed uninhabited islets are called Diaoyu by China.
#8. China To Build Ground Stations In Antarctica To Enhance Ocean Monitoring – Reuters
China, only the third country to put a man in space after the Soviet Union and the United States, is to build ground stations on Antarctica to back its network of ocean monitoring satellites, state media said.
China’s global network of ground stations to support a growing number of satellites and outer space ambitions has drawn concern from some nations that it could be used for espionage, a suggestion China rejects.
In 2020, Sweden’s state-owned space company, which had provided ground stations that helped fly Chinese spacecraft and transmit data, declined to renew contracts with China or accept new Chinese business due to “changes” in geopolitics.
#9. Sudan, Israel Agree To Move Forward With ‘Normalisation’ – Middle East Eye
Sudan and Israel agreed to press ahead with a stalled peace treaty during the first official visit by an Israeli foreign minister to Khartoum.
In January 2021, Sudan formally agreed to establish ties with Israel in a quid pro quo for the United States, removing it from its list of “state sponsors of terrorism,” but efforts to normalize ties had stalled.
Sudan has been plagued by political chaos since a military coup in October 2021 derailed the country’s democratic transition following the removal of the long-time ruler, Omar al-Bashir.
If an agreement is reached, Sudan will become the fourth country – along with the UAE, Morocco, and Bahrain – to normalize ties with Israel as part of the U.S.-backed Abraham Accords.
#10. Iran’s IRGC Chief Vows Punishment After Desecration Of Quran In Europe – Al Arabiya
The head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami threatened punishment for those behind the desecration of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in Europe.
“Today, we are the guardians of Islam and the Quran … We say to those who burned the Quran, this fire will catch your bodies and turn them into corpses,” state news agency IRNA quoted Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami as saying.
In August, Salami referenced the attack against novelist Salman Rushdie, saying that those who desecrated the Quran should expect a similar fate.
#11. Turkey May Deny Ground Services To Russian Airliners Soon – Middle East Eye
A Turkish source said that Turkey’s largest airport ground service provider, Havas, has warned Russian airlines that it may stop providing services to Western-made aircraft due to Washington-imposed sanctions over the Ukraine invasion.
The source said Havas hadn’t decided to withhold its services to Russian airlines but is currently evaluating the situation by talking to them.
The source added that they would likely follow if the United States forces local companies to abide by the sanctions and stop serving the Russian companies. The Turkish government is yet to issue a decision on the matter, according to the sources in Ankara.
#12. European Parliament Waives Immunity Of Two MEPS Suspected Of Corruption – RFI
The European Parliament has voted to lift the immunity from prosecution of two elected representatives to question concerning cash-for-influence allegations linked to Qatar and Morocco.
Four current or former members of the European Parliament or their associates are already in police custody on suspicion of corruption and money laundering.
The Belgian probe into bribery, money laundering, and the criminal organization saw police raid several addresses, including those of European lawmakers, ex-lawmakers, and parliamentary aides last year.
Those detained and charged include Greek MEP Eva Kaili, one of the parliament’s 14 vice presidents but has since been stripped of that position.
#13. Paris Olympics: Up To 40 Countries Could Boycott Games, Says Poland Sports Minister – BBC
Poland’s sport minister’s comments came after Poland, Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia jointly rejected the Olympic Committee plan to allow Russians and Belarusians to compete in 2024.
Ukraine has threatened to boycott the Paris Olympics if that occurs. But the IOC said on Thursday that any boycott would only “punish athletes.”
The minister believed it would be possible to build a coalition of 40 countries, including Great Britain, the United States, and Canada, to support a block on the IOC’s plans before a meeting on 10 February.
Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
