The United States and three of its allies, including Japan, on Sunday unveiled a $1.7 billion plan to provide electricity and internet to much of Papua New Guinea, the first step of a plan that will counter China's "Belt and Road" spending in the region.
Japan, Australia and New Zealand will join the U.S. in funding the program in Papua New Guinea, as reports emerged of tension over the wording of a final statement to be issued at the end of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the capital of Port Moresby.
China had its success on Sunday, with a Tongan official saying the Pacific nation had signed up to the "Belt and Road" initiative and received a five-year deferral on a concessional loan just before it was due to commence principal repayments.