Beijing [China], July 4: The Chinese Embassy in Fiji on July 3 denied reports that Beijing wanted to build a military base or expand its influence in the Pacific island region.
The Chinese embassy in Fiji has insisted that Beijing is not seeking military bases in the South Pacific, adding that aid to the island nations is provided with "no political strings attached".
"Statements that China is seeking to establish a military base in the Pacific are untrue," Reuters quoted a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy as saying today, July 4.
Earlier on July 2, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Pacific island nations were struggling to cope with China's growing influence. The leader warned that Fiji would not welcome Beijing establishing a military presence in the region.
"If they want to come, who will welcome them? Not Fiji," Prime Minister Rabuka said in Canberra during a visit to Australia, adding that China also understood Fiji's position.
Mr Rabuka said Fiji had development cooperation with China, but dismissed the possibility of Beijing establishing a military base in the region. In any case, he said, China did not need to build a base to project power in the region.
The Fijian prime minister cited the example of China testing an intercontinental ballistic missile over Fiji last September. The entire journey from China to the point of impact in international waters in the Pacific Ocean was 11,000 km.
"If they can target open space, they can absolutely target human habitation," Mr Rabuka told the National Press Club in Canberra.
The US is concerned that China wants to establish a military foothold in Pacific islands after Beijing sought to participate in the redevelopment of a naval base in Papua New Guinea and a military base in Fiji. Australia later won both contracts. In 2022, China signed a security agreement with the Solomon Islands.
As of now, China has established a police presence in the Solomon Islands, Kiribati and Vanuatu.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
