On 28 May 2025, China hosted participants from 11 countries from the Pacific Islands (PICs) in Xiamen, Fujian Province. This was the third China–Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. The meeting worked towards improving diplomatic, economic and regional cooperation. A joint statement was issued keeping in mind development strategies and support for each other’s core interests. The PIC also reaffirmed upholding the One China Policy.
What does the China-PIC joint statement say?
First, the One China Policy and Non-Interference. The joint statement explicitly outlines several areas of cooperation designed to benefit both China and the PIC. China reaffirmed its commitment to respecting the sovereignty of PICs and its policy of non-interference in their political affairs.
When the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019, Beijing invested in infrastructure and development aid, without applying pressure on the country’s internal political or democratic institutions. For the Solomon Islands, this approach was more appealing than that of countries like Australia or the United States, where assistance is often linked to governance or human rights standards. Under China’s One China principle, China maintains diplomatic ties with countries that recognize the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as the sole legitimate government of China. Taiwan operates as a de facto independent state; however, China considers it part of its territory and looks for eventual reunification.
One of the statement’s strongest messages is China’s stance against foreign interference in the internal affairs of PIC. China highlights the idea of sovereign equality, arguing that all nations, regardless of size or power, deserve the freedom to determine their futures. It positions itself as a respectful partner: one that provides aid without pushing political reforms or making conditional promises.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized defense alliances like AUKUS (Australia–United Kingdom–United States), which seeks to introduce nuclear-powered submarines into the Indo-Pacific. China views this as a breach of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and a risk to regional peace and stability. Wang argued that such security groupings represent bloc-based confrontation and do not serve the development goals of the Pacific.
Which Pacific Island countries maintain ties with Taiwan?
As of 2025, three Pacific Island nations including Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, continue to maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. They have withstood diplomatic pressure from China to switch recognition. However, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands shifted their recognition from Taiwan to the PRC in 2019. Nauru followed suit in January 2024, shortly after Taiwan’s presidential elections. Several factors including economic promises from Beijing, infrastructure investments, and growing diplomatic pressure have shifted countries’ focus from Taiwan to PRC. In a few cases, leadership changes and shifting national priorities contributed to these decisions as well. For some governments, aligning with China proved more beneficial than holding on to diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
What is China’s interest in the PIC?
China and the PIC have shared diplomatic relations since the 1970s. Today, cooperation spans across 20 sectors, including trade, health, education, and climate change. China has supported the region with over 100 aid projects and 200 rounds of in-kind assistance. 600 Chinese medical professionals have worked in the Pacific, providing care for over 260,000 people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, China supplied nearly 600,000 vaccine doses and over 100 tons of medical supplies to the region. China and the PIC have built 22 sister-province and city-level partnerships to foster grassroots engagement. High-level visits, such as President Xi Jinping’s trips in 2014 and 2018, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s regional tour in 2022, have further strengthened ties.
Most of the PIC now recognize the PRC and support the One China policy. This diplomatic alignment has opened the door for greater investment through China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched in 2013. Under the BRI framework, China has supported major infrastructure projects like the USD 71 million national stadium in the Solomon Islands, port upgrades, roads in Vanuatu, and hospitals in Fiji and Samoa.
In addition, China has pledged to fund a hundred "small but beautiful" projects across the region focused on climate change adaptation, clean energy, and tourism. These efforts align with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, a regional plan prioritizing sustainable development and regional security. The joint statement confirmed that all parties would work to integrate the BRI with this regional strategy.
What next for China and the PiC?
First, China’s expanding influence in the Pacific is part of a larger effort to redefine its role on the world stage. By building strong regional partnerships, China seeks to lead the Global South and offer an alternative to Western-led international systems. Second, for many countries, especially during the presidency of Donald Trump, China appeared more stable and predictable than the United States. The US's decision to pull out from the WHO had most countries rethink their alliance with the US. Third, in the face of US "protectionism", larger economies like Germany and France increased trade with China. Countries like Iran and Russia, facing Western sanctions, deepened strategic ties with Beijing. In Africa and Southeast Asia, nations such as Ethiopia and Cambodia welcomed Chinese aid, which came without political conditions. Fourth, China is seen as a more pragmatic and reliable trade partner. For the PIC, China offers a clear alternative to West, one that not only promises sovereignty but economic support and inclusion in a more balanced, equal and multipolar world.
About the author
Ananya Dinesh is an undergraduate student pursuing Mass Communication and Journalism, Political Science and Literature at St Francis College for Women, Hyderabad.
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