Image Credits : South Asian Weekender
Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered his strong backing to Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s “Ocean of Peace” initiative during a high-profile meeting in Beijing. This endorsement comes just days before a crucial summit of Pacific Island leaders in Tonga, where regional security and China’s growing influence in the Pacific will be hotly discussed.
Xi praised Rabuka’s vision of a peaceful, cooperative Pacific region and reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening its ties with Fiji. The Fijian leader’s plan, which promotes non-militarized engagement with global powers, is seen as a diplomatic alternative in a region increasingly caught between the U.S. and China’s geopolitical competition.
As part of the growing relationship, China has pledged to invest in critical infrastructure projects in Fiji, including port development, road upgrades, and sewage systems. China will also support the growth of Fiji’s tourism, agriculture, and fisheries sectors, vital industries for the island nation’s economy, which has been burdened by significant debt.
Xi’s backing is seen as part of China’s broader strategy to secure influence in the region, which includes efforts to diplomatically isolate Taiwan and forge closer ties with Pacific nations.
The Pacific region has gained strategic importance for China, particularly as it seeks to expand its influence along the “second island chain,” which extends from Japan through the Pacific. While some analysts are sceptical of the economic returns of such investments, Fiji’s position makes it a key piece in Beijing’s broader regional strategy.
Rabuka will highlight China’s endorsement of his initiative at next week’s Pacific Islands summit in Tonga, where leaders from 18 countries and territories will also discuss a new regional policing proposal led by Australia