China's Growing Presence in the South Pacific:regional expansionism or global politics?~1

摘要

China is more progressively expanding its foreign policy interests across the globe, including in the South Pacific, with the focus on increasing its engagement and global influence. It is doing so for strategic and practical reasons. Diplomatically, China is seeking to ensure that its 'one-China' policy—and the avoidance of Taiwanese international legitimacy—is progressed in the South Pacific region just as it seeks to do across the globe. However, in doing so, China is aware that it enjoys considerable diplomatic recognition and support from the two main players in the region, Australia and New Zealand, and will prudently seek to build on that support and not jeopardise it.