The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on the 21st that Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister, will host the 3rd "China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers' Meeting" from May 28 to 29 in Xiamen, Fujian. This will be the first time this mechanism is held in person within China, and representatives from 11 Pacific island countries with diplomatic ties to China will attend, sparking speculation on whether it is aimed at strengthening China's bonds with these Pacific Island nations.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' website, spokesperson Mao Ning stated on the 21st that China and the Pacific Island countries are "comprehensive strategic partners of mutual respect and common development," with fruitful outcomes over the years in infrastructure, pandemic cooperation, climate change, and personnel exchanges. During this meeting, all parties will conduct in-depth exchanges on bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues of common concern, actively implement leaders' consensus, and promote building a closer community with a shared future. Mao Ning noted that this conference reflects the strong expectation of the Pacific Island countries to develop relations with China.
This Foreign Ministers' Meeting is a continuation of the regular communication platform established between China and the Pacific Island countries, with the inaugural meeting held virtually in 2021 and the second in 2022 hosted by Wang Yi during his visit to Fiji. Analysts suggest that through this platform, Beijing has strengthened political mutual trust with the Pacific Island countries and expanded the space for South-South cooperation.
The Lowy Institute in Australia has analyzed that the diplomatic strategy of Beijing towards the Pacific Island countries has gradually shifted from traditional aid and economic cooperation to a more diverse layout covering security, digital infrastructure, and media cooperation, which has caught the attention of some Western countries. Especially after China signed a security cooperation agreement with the Solomon Islands in 2022, it was seen as a significant turning point in breaking the long-standing Western dominance in the South Pacific.
Additionally, the choice of Xiamen in Fujian as the meeting location also carries symbolic meaning. It demonstrates China's policy layout along the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road", as Xiamen is located at the forefront of the Taiwan Strait and might convey Beijing's intention to promote the One-China principle internationally and further compress Taiwan's diplomatic space.