Defeat of transactional realism: China fills the security vacuum in the South Pacific with grants and climate support

From May 28 to 29, 2025, the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting took place in Xiamen. As a result, Beijing expressed readiness to open access to the Chinese market for goods produced in the region, particularly by accelerating bilateral trade agreements.

It also pledged support in education, culture, tourism, healthcare, and media, and to allocate at least $2 million to combat climate change.

In turn, the South Pacific states expressed support for China’s vision regarding Taiwan and its three strategic initiatives: the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative.

The meeting was attended by representatives from 11 of the 14 South Pacific states at the level of foreign ministers, their deputies, or special envoys, including Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, the Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Nauru, Fiji, and Samoa.