Summary:
- Secretary of State Antony Blinken embarks on a trip to Tonga, Australia, and New Zealand to strengthen US-Pacific relations.
- Blinken's visit to Tonga includes the dedication of the new US Embassy in Nukuwa Lofa and aims to bolster relationships with Pacific Island nations.
- The US seeks to compete with China for influence in the region as concerns grow over China's infrastructure investments and naval ambitions.
- China's top concern is Taiwan, as some Pacific Island nations still recognize Taipei and lack Chinese embassies on their soil.
- Blinken's final stop in Australia concludes his tour of the Pacific region.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken appears to be making good on the long-held U.S. foreign policy goal of a pivot to Asia. Having just returned from an ASEAN meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia last week, he is heading Monday to Tonga and then later to Australia and New Zealand.
Blinken is the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit Tonga and will dedicate the brand-new U.S. Embassy in the capital, Nukuwa Lofa. When asked if the visit is to counter China's presence in the Pacific, Blinken had this to say Friday at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. Well, it also has a lot to do with the relationships we're trying to build with these countries that have in the past been a little bit neglected. China has a large embassy in Tonga and has been pouring money into infrastructure there and on other Pacific islands. Shihoko Goto, acting director for the Asia program and also the director of Geo-economics at the Wilson Center, tells VOA. The United States is actually coming a little bit late into that game. Countries like Japan have been much more proactive in understanding the importance of these countries. The United States, by going there, engaging, is trying to compete toe-to-toe with China to win over the hearts and minds of the Pacific Islands. The United States and its regional allies Australia and New Zealand have also been concerned that China has ambitions to build a naval base in the region since the Solomon Islands made a security pact with China last year. China's top concern is Taiwan, as some Pacific Island nations still recognize Taipei and do not have Chinese embassies on their soil, says Brian Harding, senior expert for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands at the United States Institute of Peace. Until recently, six Pacific Island countries still recognize Taipei. China has been very successful in the last few years, pulling away Solomon Islands and Kiribati. Now it's looking to do the same with some others. Secretary Blinken will travel from Tonga to New Zealand, where he will cheer on the US women's soccer team in the World Cup when they play against the Netherlands. His final stop on the tour is Australia.
Cindy Sehn, VOA News.