A new group allegedly aimed to improve economic and security concerns and interests with the Pacific island was formed between the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.

A joint statement on Friday announced the formation of the informal alliance, labeled Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP), purportedly aimed to boost the efficacy of ongoing efforts “to support prosperity, resilience, and security” in the region.

According to the statement, PBP will operate “according to principles of Pacific regionalism, sovereignty, transparency, accountability, and most of all, [will be] led and guided by the Pacific islands.”

The fundamental goals of the group, as read in the statement include the expansion of prospects for cooperation between the Pacific island nations and the rest of the world.

The statement also read that the region is faced with the “most urgent challenges,” including the climate crisis, Covid-19, and “growing pressure on the rules-based free and open international order.”

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Furthermore, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said on Thursday that more high-level US officials will visit the Pacific islands in the future, “recognizing that nothing replaces, really, diplomatic boots on the ground.”

“Sovereignty is central in terms of how we see the Pacific overall. Any initiative that compromises or calls into question that sovereignty, I think we would have concerns with,” Campbell said, without mentioning China specifically.

In a different statement, Kurt Campbell, White House Indo-Pacific coordinator, said on Thursday that more high-level US officials will visit the Pacific islands in the future “recognizing that nothing replaces, really, diplomatic boots on the ground.”

The official added “Sovereignty is central in terms of how we see the Pacific overall. Any initiative that compromises or calls into question that sovereignty, I think we would have concerns with.” 

Previously in the Pacific

The Campbell and PBP statements appear to be a reference to China’s regional approach to economic and political sustainability. As well as the security pact China signed with the Solomon Islands earlier in April.

Moreover in the Pacific, Australia was worried that the Solomon island security pact could be a step toward a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 km away.

On the other side, the US, UK, and Australia had formed their AUKUS alliance amid China concerns. The alliance was based on enhancing Australia's nuclear capabilities through advanced technology and nuclear submarines in order to increase the alliance's strength in the South Pacific as China grows more influential in its region.

Late in September of 2021, the US, UK, and Australia formed a military alliance to boost nuclear capabilities and "strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region" as the West grows warier of China, although they did not mention that in their announcement.

The military alliance is known as AUKUS and was announced during a trilateral virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Conversely, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare accused Australia of hypocrisy, saying that Canberra should have been more transparent with other Pacific nations when signing the AUKUS pact before accusing the new Honiara-Beijing security agreement of secrecy.

China and the Solomon Islands signed a framework agreement on security cooperation on April 19th. The construction of a Chinese military base in the Solomon Islands, according to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will be a "red line" for Canberra and Washington.

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On his account, Manasseh Sogavare told parliament, as cited by Australian broadcaster ABC News, that "one would expect that as a member of the Pacific family, the Solomon Islands and members of the Pacific should have been consulted to ensure this AUKUS treaty is transparent since it will affect the Pacific family by allowing nuclear submarines in Pacific waters." 

Sogavare stated that he learned about Australia's security agreement with the United Kingdom and the United States from the media.

Furthermore, a senior Solomon Islands official has defended his country's freedom to pick its friends, saying that the security arrangement agreed between the Solomon Islands and China was necessary to protect domestic security and aid in the battle against climate change.

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