China denies Pacific base plans after Fijian PM raised concerns
3 Min Read
Beijing reiterates that its engagement in the Pacific focuses on economic growth and mutual respect, not military expansion or geopolitical rivalry.
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Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, second left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, attend a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Aug.20, 2024. (Pool Photo via AP)
China has firmly denied accusations that it is seeking to establish military bases in the Pacific Islands, following remarks by Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressing concern over what he views as Beijing’s growing presence in the region.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Fiji rejected speculation that China intends to expand its strategic footprint through a military presence in the region.
“The claims about China setting up a military base in the Pacific are false narratives,” the embassy said. “China's presence in the Pacific is focused on building roads and bridges to improve people's livelihoods, not on stationing troops or setting up military bases.”
Wider context
The denial came after Rabuka, speaking at Australia’s National Press Club in Canberra, voiced concern over what he perceives as China’s growing influence while reaffirming that Fiji opposes any effort to establish military infrastructure in the region.
Rabuka warned that China does not require physical bases to exert military pressure. He cited a Chinese intercontinental ballistic missile test from September, which reportedly flew over Fiji and landed roughly 11,000 km (6,800 miles) away in the Pacific Ocean.
“If they can very well target an empty space, they can very well target occupied space,” Rabuka claimed. While Fiji maintains development partnerships with China, Rabuka emphasized the importance of preserving regional neutrality and sovereignty, signaling discomfort with potential geopolitical maneuvering.
China denies claims of regional militarization
In its response, the Chinese Embassy stressed that China and Fiji “respect each other’s sovereignty” and dismissed claims of regional militarization.
“China has no interest in geopolitical competition, or seeking the so-called 'sphere of influence',” the embassy stressed.
The exchange highlights the Pacific Island nations’ efforts to maintain constructive partnerships, with China emphasizing mutual respect, non-interference, and support for regional development amid growing US-China competition.
US military bases raise alarm
The continued expansion of US military bases in Fiji and across the Pacific Islands has raised alarm among regional observers who view the buildup as a revival of Cold War–era power projection.
Critics argue that rather than supporting regional stability, the growing American military footprint undermines the sovereignty of small island nations, invites geopolitical tension, and prioritizes strategic containment over the genuine needs of local populations.
While Washington frames its presence as a deterrent to China, many in the region see it as an attempt to militarize the Pacific under the guise of security partnerships, potentially drawing the islands into great-power rivalries they have long sought to avoid.
Read more: US Air Force plans Pacific drills to test potential war with China
