THE PACIFIC I PLACE IN THE

Ever since the end of the Seco of countries ranging in size Micronesia to Palau, have been demonstrated in the case of outposts for the European emp became more and more adva the need to square off agains rivalry between the two em declining The commonly, and the American back garden, w future

Despite many of these countri this situation has changed. In world, and investment poured largest economy in the world year, $5 trillion behind the U heft, China sought to expand i term aim of displacing the Un enticed the following nations Road Initiative: Micronesia, V and New Zealand It establishe embassies and trade offices th Zealand scrambling

WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE PACIFIC ISLANDS?

But one key event crystallised long-running concerns about how thi the Pacific op announcemen between the S security pact, the Pacific: it redeveloping arrest and cr involvement b

Such a bold m DC, Canberra, and London In had taken for diplomatic act hosted the announcing $8 and an 11-p advances. US Vanuatu, and aside for Pacif nearly $2 billi ‘dollar diplom allies have fir ring.

This presents nations, who exploitation a unanswered As evidenced through the recent USPapua New Guinea basing agreement, trading off significant economic benefits for allowing the basing of US troops in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific can now begin to tap into the deep pockets of both nations, refusing to commit fully to either of China or the US whilst reaping the benefits of both. Pertinently, a senior member of the Australian Opposition, Simon Birmingham, admitted his party should have paid far greater heed to the cries of the Pacific nations over rising sea levels and the effect caused by the fossil-fuelheavy energy mixes of Australia and the United States

Ultimately, the Pacific now stands at the centre of a global struggle, between the United States and China as to who will be the greater power of the next century. Amongst the risk such a contest poses, it also offers the Pacific a glimmer of hope after decades of non-interest: if they play the great-power game wrong, they could lose much of their autonomy, with their people continuing to suffer appalling poverty and their nations threatened by global warming. Play the game right, and the Pacific could emerge economically prosperous, independent, and environmentally secure in the years ahead