03 Jun 2022: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

B. GS 2 Related

Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. China’s growing footprint in the Pacific Islands

Syllabus: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries 

Prelims: About Pacific Island Countries

Mains: Significance of Pacific Island Countries, China’s interests in the region and the implications of China’s recent moves

Context

The Chinese Foreign Minister is visiting ten Pacific Island Countries (PICs) and is trying to push through a comprehensive framework agreement.

Background

For detailed background refer to the following article:

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 15 Apr 2022

Pacific Island Countries

• The Pacific Island Countries are a group of 14 islands that are located in the tropical region of the Pacific Ocean between Asia, Australia and the two Americas. 
• Pacific Island Countries include the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. 
• These countries are classified based on their physical and human geography into three distinct regions namely Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia. 
• These island nations have very small land areas and are spread across the vast Pacific ocean. 
• Despite these countries being some of the smallest and least populated countries, they have some of the largest Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) in the world.

Image source: Wikipedia

Strategic Significance of Pacific Island Countries

• Large Exclusive Economic Zones: As these countries have large EEZs they have a huge economic potential to utilise these EEZs which are rich in fisheries, energy, minerals and other marine resources. 
  • These nations prefer to be regarded as the Big Ocean States, rather than the Small Island States. 
  • Countries like Kiribati and the Federation States of Micronesia have EEZs larger than that of India. 
• Strategic establishments: These island states in the past have played a crucial role in major power rivalry as they have been launchpads for establishing power projections and laboratories for developing and demonstrating strategic capabilities. 
• Nuclear test sites: Due to the remoteness of these States from major population centres of the world, a few major nuclear weapon test centres of the nuclear powers such as the U.S., the U.K. and France were located in these countries. 
  • Also, these island states acted as one of the major theatres of war during the Second World War — between Japan and the U.S.
• Geopolitical influence: These 14 Pacific Island Countries are bonded together through shared economic and security concerns, and most importantly they account for a significant amount of votes in the United Nations and other international organisations and act as a vote bank for the major powers to mobilise international support.

China’s interests in Pacific Island Countries

• China is looking to enhance its relations with these island states as it does not have any historical connections with these countries, unlike the Western powers. 
• The geostrategic location of these islands lies in the natural line of the expansion of China’s maritime interest and naval power. 
  • These countries are located beyond China’s ‘First Island Chain’, which represents the country’s first threshold of maritime expansion. 
  • China refers to this region as its ‘Far Seas’ and gaining control of it will make China an effective Blue Water capable Navy which is an essential prerequisite for becoming a superpower.
• China is also looking to build its relations with these countries to counter the rising influence of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) which has emerged as a major force in the Indo-Pacific. 
• The vast marine richness and the huge economic potential of these island states have also attracted China.
• The Taiwan Factor – The islands in the south Pacific are countries where China has competition from Taiwan for diplomatic recognition.
  • China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province awaiting reunification, therefore any country that has relations with China will have to sever ties with Taiwan. 
  • Taking these island countries away from the West and Taiwan will make the goal of Taiwan’s reunification easier for China.
  • China has succeeded in getting diplomatic recognition from 10 out of the 14 Pacific Island states through its economic assistance and at present only four of these countries namely Tuvalu, Palau, Marshall Islands and Nauru recognise Taiwan.

Implications of China’s recent moves

• Recently, the two draft documents prepared by China namely “China-Pacific Island Countries (PICs) Common Development Vision”, and “China-Pacific Islands Five-Year Action Plan on Common Development (2022-2026)” have been leaked and have gained the attention of the international community.
  • The vision document deals with the proposal to improve cooperation in political, security, economic and strategic spheres.
  • The action plan document highlights specific details of cooperation in these identified areas. 
• However, the Pacific Island Countries as a collective decision rejected China’s extensive and ambitious proposals.
• The Prime Minister of the Federation States of Micronesia had written to all the island country governments to consider China’s proposals with caution, as they can have negative implications on the sovereignty and unity of these island countries and may lead them into major power conflicts in the future. 
• But experts feel that China is expected to come back with an improvised deal that is more acceptable and also this failure to get a consensus on the deal will not stop China from pursuing bilateral deals with individual countries of similar nature.
• This policy of China has cautioned the powers who have traditionally enjoyed a higher degree of influence in the region like the U.S. and Australia.
  • The U.S. is revisiting its diplomatic priority for the region ever since the China-Solomon Islands deal.
  • Also, the U.S. is said to have played a key role in mobilising opposition against China’s proposed deal as the Federation States of Micronesia is the only nation which recognises China and is also part of the Compact of Free Association with the U.S. simultaneously.
  • Australia has sent its officials to these countries to revisit their ties and has promised due priority and assistance to these countries.

D. GS 4 Related

Nothing here for today!!!

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

1. Rather than focusing on the Kashmir issue, India Pakistan relations can benefit considerably by focusing on low hanging fruits such as the Sir Creek dispute, Siachen and resumption of bilateral trade. Do you agree? Discuss. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS II – International Relations)
2. Within a short span of time, Israel has emerged as one of India’s most significant partners in many areas. Comment. (250 words; 15 marks) (GS II – International Relations)

Read the previous CNA here.