CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO VANUATU WAS exceptionally busy in December as the tiny Pacific Island nation signed a security deal with America's key ally Australia. Starting on December 13, when Vanuatu and Australia sealed the agreement, Ambassador Li Minggang hosted three events over three days in Vanuatu, including at the massive Chinese embassy in the capital Port Vila. Li was at pains to highlight China's extensive involvement in the region with aid and infrastructure and its 40 years of diplomatic ties to a country where the U.S. has no embassy on the ground. Beijing's message was clear: China was there for the long haul-and it was bringing gifts.
China was willing to work with Vanuatu "to advance our strategic alignment," Li told about 200 top government officials and other dignitaries on December 14, as they enjoyed Chinese delicacies and tried their hand at calligraphy, according to the embassy.
The day after signing the formal security deal with Australia, Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who had once voiced criticism of his predecessor's good relationship with Beijing, was pictured getting a Chinese massage.
Li's flurry of activity starkly underscored his country's determined push for economic and political influence in the South Pacific, where growing competition between China and the United States-joined by allies such as Australia and Japan and closely watched by India-swirls across thousands of miles of ocean in a region with sea lanes that are important for world trade, that is crossed by underwater cables carrying global communications and is dotted with islands that offer excellent ports and airfields of potential strategic importance for whichever military can count on them.
China's diplomatic offensive to win hearts, minds and pocketbooks in the South Pacific is just a part of a wider strategy, highlighted by Newsweek's reporting, to deepen its influence around the world.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 20, 2023-Ausgabe von Newsweek Europe.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 20, 2023-Ausgabe von Newsweek Europe.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
All the Right Moves
PR experts tell Newsweek the winning strategies that keep Dancing With the Stars as popular as ever after 19 years
Front Line of History
A fascinating series of snapshots showing a medic's experience of the Korean War have been uncovered by his grandson
CLEAR AND PRESIDENTIAL DANGER
IN A CAMPAIGN THAT'S BEEN FULL OF SHOCKS, COULD AN OCTOBER SURPRISE PROVIDE A FINAL TWIST IN THE RACE TO THE WHITE HOUSE?
'We're Not Beasts, We're Just People'
Trans MMA fighter Alana McLaughlin on coping with societal and family of being the 'bigger person' expectations
Is This France's #MeToo Moment?
The trial of Dominique Pélicot, who has admitted drugging his wife and allowing her alleged rape, has highlighted a culture of sexual violence in the country
Washington is 'Playing With Fire'
In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warns the U.S. to accept his country's proposal to end the war in Ukraine or face \"dangerous consequences\"
Zachary Quinto
ZACHARY QUINTO HAS PLAYED DOCTORS BEFORE, BUT HE'S \"NEVER PLAYED a doctor like\" the one he plays on NBC's Brilliant Minds (September 23).
Adam Brody
NETFLIX KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT MILLENNIALS want, and it's to see Adam Brody and Kristen Bell fall in love.
Partners in Crime
Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt shares his delight at teaming up with Shailene Woodley again in new Amazon Prime movie Killer Heat
HOW TO FIND A WORKPLACE THAT LOVES YOU BACK
Insights from America's Top Most Loved Workplaces