Why China-PICs cooperation matters

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Cooperation, without suspense, is the keyword of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Xiamen, Fujian Province. The meeting serves as a crucial platform to discuss all-around cooperation and address regional issues of mutual interest, reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the PICs.

"All parties … reaffirmed their commitment to deepening their comprehensive strategic partnership that features mutual respect and common development, and to building an even closer China-Pacific Island Countries community with a shared future," reads the joint statement released on Wednesday.

China deeply values its ties with the PICs, respecting their sovereignty and independence and upholding the principle that all countries, big or small, are equal. This approach fosters a strong sense of mutual trust, setting a model for South-South cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships.

This respect allows PICs to engage with a major global power without compromising their autonomy or cultural traditions. It also enables PICs to diversify their international partnerships beyond historical dependencies, enhancing their diplomatic leverage in global affairs.

China's engagement with these nations goes beyond mere diplomatic gestures. It translates into concrete benefits that address some of the most pressing challenges these nations face.

PICs are China's vital economic and trade partners located at the southern extension of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). BRI-included initiatives promise substantial opportunities for the development of these island nations, facilitating advancements in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people connectivity.

Projects such as the Independence Boulevard in Papua New Guinea, the Malakula Island highway in Vanuatu, the renovation of Tonga's national road and the Pohnpei highway in Micronesia, significantly improve connectivity and facilitate trade and economic activities. Against Western accusations that the BRI is to entrap countries with unserviceable debt, China is a more reliable partner than the West, offering crucial loans when others refused.

A 2020 report from the China Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University revealed that from 2000 to 2019, China wrote off $3.4 billion in African debt and restructured an additional $15 billion, without confiscating any assets.

"Developing country debt to China is less than what is owed to both private bondholders and multilateral development banks (MDBs)," said Kevin Gallagher, director of the Boston University Global Development Policy Center.

Furthermore, Chinese companies operating in PICs promote localized management and procurement, supporting economic development, creating local jobs and improving the well-being of local communities.

Over the years, China has implemented over 100 aid projects, delivered more than 200 batches of in-kind assistance, and trained approximately 10,000 individuals in various fields, according to official data.

China's engagement offers PICs an alternative development pathway emphasizing infrastructure, trade and human resource development tailored to their specific contexts. This diversification is vital for island economies that are often dependent on limited resources and vulnerable to external economic fluctuations. By supporting PICs in areas like infrastructure connectivity, education and technology transfer, China helps lay the foundation for long-term economic self-reliance and poverty reduction.

China-PICs partnership has become a benchmark for how developing countries can collaborate effectively to achieve sustainable development goals without external interference. This model shifts the paradigm from donor-recipient dynamics to mutual benefit and shared growth. PICs gain access to development resources, technical expertise and capacity-building opportunities aligned with their priorities, ensuring their resilience in development.

The growing China-PICs partnership also reflects a shifting geopolitical landscape in the Pacific. Historically influenced by Western powers, the region is witnessing a diversification of major partnerships. China's presence offers PICs alternative sources of investment and strategic cooperation.

China-PICs cooperation transcends transactional aid or isolated projects; it embodies a strategic, long-term engagement that empowers PICs to pursue sustainable development on their own terms while contributing to regional peace and resilience.

As the Pacific navigates complex global challenges, this week's meeting underscores the enduring value of solidarity and strategic partnership between China and the PICs. The meeting not only strengthens bilateral ties but also contributes to the overall stability and prosperity of the region, setting a positive example for international cooperation.

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