China’s aggressive policy or something else… What is the purpose of Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea?

Harsh V Pant

Harsh V. Pant

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to attend the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) meeting in Papua New Guinea, along with the leaders of 18 Pacific Island nations, US President Joe Biden was also to attend. But due to the ongoing date ceiling talks in Washington, Biden had to abruptly cancel his visit. This meeting is taking place at a time when the major powers of the world are engaged in reshaping the strategic equation of the Indo-Pacific region.

increasing Chinese penetration

The central role of the Pacific Islands in the emerging geopolitical disputes between China and the US has long been evident. Beijing has been engaged economically with the region since the 1980s, but in recent years this engagement has been transformed into a security-oriented relationship.

• Last year, China and the Solomon Islands signed an agreement according to which Beijing would help enhance the country’s national security capability.
• It also includes provisions under which China can send its ships there, deliver logistics, even use force to protect its employees and large projects.
• In the past, the competition for influence in the region was between China and Taiwan. But as China’s economic clout grew, most of the island nations of the Pacific swore their allegiance to China.
• However, there is no less discontent at the local level. As many senior leaders in the region say, our country’s long-term interests—the pursuit of development, democratic values, human rights, the rule of law, human dignity and mutual respect—lie in living with Taiwan, not joining China. Despite this, China’s dominance in the region has continued to grow.

Port Moresby, May 21 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraces Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on his arrival, in Port Moresby on Sunday. (ANI Photo)

In February this year, Daniel Suidani, head of the South Pacific country’s Malaita province, was ousted by the legislature. Suidani was strongly opposed to the Chinese presence in this country.

China attaches great importance to the Pacific Islands in its Belt and Road Initiative and has effectively utilized regional forums such as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the China-Pacific Islands Economic Development and Cooperation Forum (EDCF). Have done In recent years, there have been regular high-level talks between China and countries in the South Pacific. Last year, Wang Yi, the then foreign minister of China, tried hard to strike an economic and security pact with ten Pacific island nations. This proposed agreement was called the Five Year Action Plan for Common Development. Although these efforts were not successful, they did underline China’s growing ambitions regarding the region.

On the contrary, America’s attitude has been very weak in this matter. He never prioritized his relations with these countries. As a result, as the penetration of China increased in these areas, the influence of America decreased. Whatever little involvement he had, it would be called one-sided in the sense that his interest was limited to the military presence. He never paid attention to the developmental needs of the region.

• After all, America’s sleep was broken due to the ever-increasing activism of China. Biden’s Indo-Pacific expert Kurt Campbell warned that the Chinese military presence in the Pacific region could worsen the situation at any time and therefore the US would also have to increase its presence here.

  The White House then announced the US-Pacific Island Strategy to expand US diplomatic presence in the region, and last September the first

• Held the US-Pacific Island Country Summit, which showed America’s commitment to the region.
• Its nine-point declaration includes support for the US-Pacific partnership, building US capacity in the region, coordination with allies and partners, climate, economy, security and maritime cooperation, cyber security, connectivity, and COVID-19 and health security Also includes handling the legacy of conflicts.
• The US realization that its lack of focus on the region has left China in a position to fill that void has prompted it to work in tandem with regional partners.
• The United States, together with Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United Kingdom, launched the Partners in the Blue Pacific Initiative to provide support to Pacific Island countries in line with the principles of regionalism, sovereignty, transparency, accountability, and leadership and direction from the Pacific Islands Is.
• As an observer in this group, India can also play an important role in development.

  New Delhi launched FIPIC in 2014 with 14 Pacific island nations during Modi’s visit to Fiji. Since then India has tried to restore regular high-level dialogue.

India-US partnership
Even though Biden’s trip was cancelled, his plan to visit Papua New Guinea while Modi is there sends a clear message in itself. That the US-India partnership no longer hesitates to explore new possibilities in new areas and that both are determined to provide an effective alternative to China’s pressure in the Pacific. However, the US must now ensure that its domestic problems do not prevent it from assuring its allies and partners of its long-term strategic intentions.

(The writer is professor at King’s College, UK)