• Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in February 2020. A regionwide agreement covering security and trade between China and Pacific islands would represent a shift in Beijing's focus from bilateral relationships to dealing with the Pacific on a multilateral basis, and would likely increase the concerns of Washington and its allies. | BLOOMBERG
    Wang Yi, China's foreign minister, in February 2020. A regionwide agreement covering security and trade between China and Pacific islands would represent a shift in Beijing's focus from bilateral relationships to dealing with the Pacific on a multilateral basis, and would likely increase the concerns of Washington and its allies. | BLOOMBERG

  • AFP-Jiji

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Honiara, Solomon Islands – China has put forward plans to dramatically expand security and economic cooperation with South Pacific nations, with one regional leader calling it a thinly veiled effort to lock them into “Beijing’s orbit” and Washington warning against “shadowy” deals.

A wide-ranging draft agreement and five-year plan, both obtained by AFP on Wednesday, will be the subject of discussion when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visits Pacific nations from Thursday.

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