China push back in US message for Samoa Independence

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is pushing back on China’s efforts to expand its influence in the South Pacific, most recently with a message to Samoa. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports—

Blinken is congratulating Samoans on the 60th anniversary, June 1st, of their independence.

The Secretary of State issued a statement marking the “close friendship between Samoa and the US rooted in our strong historical, cultural, economic” and personal ties.

But Blinken’s reference to a “longstanding partnership” in building a “prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific” is no accident. Nor is his call to work together with Samoa to advance climate goals and “expand bilateral trade and investment.”

The statement comes on the heels of a visit to Samoa by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his meeting with Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

The two signed several co-operation and aid agreements.

It’s a growing relationship that has not escaped the attention of American Samoa’s officials, including Governor Lemanu in recent Congressional testimony on issues critical for ASG…

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A Samoa Government press release calls China a “key development partner for Samoa” in health, education, human resources, sports and agriculture.

But it goes further, that “key to the bilateral relations between China and Samoa is adherence to the one China principle.”

Beijing and Washington have different interpretations of the one China principle and its meaning for the future of Taiwan, that China claims as its own and is increasingly threatening to take by force.

But the conflict over Taiwan and others, plus China’s South China Sea territorial claims, are part of a bigger strategy by Beijing to expand its Pacific economic and even military influence.

Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister was criticized for signing a security deal with China that could pave the way for Beijing to station troops, weapons, and naval ships in the region.

The Biden Administration has pushed back with military exercises, transits of the Taiwan Strait, and the recently launched Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, but China continues its campaign.

Its Common Development Vision, leaked last week, covers 10 Pacific nations…though the effort suffered a setback after foreign ministers failed to reach consensus…forcing Beijing to shelve a deal for now but not China’s long-term ambitions for the Pacific.