US reassures Pacific island nations

MAI QUYEN (According to Reuters, Guardian)

US President Joe Biden will arrange another summit with Pacific island leaders this year, after the White House boss canceled a visit to Papua New Guinea to focus on his country's debt ceiling crisis.

The US just opened an embassy in Tonga on May 10.

The information was revealed by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan when asked whether President Biden's early return to Washington (from Japan) would give China an advantage in the region. Regarding this issue, Mr. Sullivan optimistically said that the demand of Pacific island nations to cooperate with the US has shown signs of increasing. And in the near future, the White House is scheduling another summit. Although he did not specify a specific time, Mr. Sullivan affirmed that Washington is preparing step by step as part of the process of promoting cooperation with the region.

President Biden was scheduled to travel to Japan to attend the G7 Summit from May 19 to 21. The US leader then visited Papua New Guinea and then Australia, where he met with the leaders of the Quad (US, Australia, Japan and India). But with the pressure to deal with the debt ceiling, President Biden's Asia trip was cut short and he will return to Washington from the G7 summit to discuss with Congress how to prevent the government from defaulting on its debt. This news immediately disappointed everyone, especially the people of Papua New Guinea.

Biden’s expected three-hour stop in the capital Port Moresby is the first visit by a sitting US president to Papua New Guinea. Preparations for the visit began six months ago, including plans to close the country’s airspace and set May 22 as a public holiday so people could welcome the US president. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape previously confirmed that the two sides would sign an agreement on defense cooperation and maritime surveillance during President Biden’s visit. However, opposition groups are concerned that a security pact with the US could anger Beijing and put Port Moresby in a bind between the two powers.

America's step back

The decision to cancel President Biden’s visit to Papua New Guinea is a blow to US credibility in the Pacific island region, analysts say, and a setback for Washington in the battle for influence in a region where China is seeking a larger security presence.

The Pacific islands span 40 million square kilometers of ocean and are home to vital shipping lanes and submarine cables linking the United States to its allies Australia and Japan. Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited the region three times, including in Papua New Guinea in 2018. After reaching a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year, Beijing has been pushing for a wide-ranging agreement covering free trade, security cooperation and disaster response with 10 other Pacific nations. But China’s push for a greater regional role has slowed after President David Panuelo of the Federated States of Micronesia warned the Pacific island nations not to sign the pact, fearing it could spark a new Cold War.

While wary of China, Pacific leaders have previously complained about the US posture in the region, even questioning Washington’s ability to re-engage. In defense, Sullivan said the region is mindful of the fact that the current US administration has done more for the Pacific islands than the past. This is also part of Washington’s strategy to establish a high profile in the region in the face of China’s advances. This has been reflected in the Biden administration’s recent progress in renewing strategic treaties with Micronesia and Palau, opening more embassies, and gaining exclusive access to vast strategic areas in the Pacific.

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