China’s Emerging Role in the South Pacific

Date: 3 August 2011

Venue: Hunter Council Chamber, Victoria University of Wellington

Overview

Leading experts on China and the South Pacific from Victoria University of Wellington, University of Auckland and Canterbury University gathered at Victoria University of Wellington at a half-day public symposium to examine China’s relations with the South Pacific and its changing roles in the region.

During the past decade, China has embarked on a series of cross-regional diplomatic initiatives designed to enhance its strategic presence further afield of Asia. One region which has not received as much scrutiny as others is the South Pacific, especially Polynesia and Melanesia, where Beijing has embarked on a series of initiatives, including economic assistance, infrastructure projects, and diplomatic cooperation.

This symposium examined questions regarding China’s evolving regional strategies as well as possible responses from the South Pacific and traditional players in the region, namely the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Key issues emerged in the presentations and discussions: China’s growing connections and influences on the South Pacific; China’s grand strategy towards the South Pacific, the cross-strait relations between China mainland and Taiwan; and the increasing Chinese commercial diplomacy in this region.

Dr Steven Ratuva of Auckland University assessed the nature and extent of China's presence and influence in the region and confronted the claim that the Pacific is becoming a Chinese lake. Associate Professor Anne-Marie Brady of University of Canterbury took up the problem of China and Taiwan rivalry in the region and explained whether this rivalry will continue to be a factor in the region's relations with China. Dr Jian Yang of Auckland University examines myths surrounding the debate and urged people to understand China’s engagement and activities in the region in the broad context of China’s international strategy and interests. Dr Marc Lanteigne of Victoria University of Wellington looked at China's interests and activities as part of the China's broad strategy of commercial diplomacy and what that means for countries in the region. Much of the discussion focused on how China in the region relates to New Zealand and Australia, and how New Zealand and Australia shall respond accordingly.

More than 60 participants from the policy, academic and diplomatic communities attended the symposium.

Related resources

• pdf123KBSymposium Programme
• pdf51KBSymposium Flyer

Videos

First half of session

View video

• Introduced by Professor Rob Rabel, Pro-Vice-Chancellor International, Victoria University of Wellington.
• Opening remarks by Mr Christopher Elder—Ministry of Foreign Affairs, New Zealand.
• Dr Steven Ratuva, Auckland University—“Is the Pacific Becoming a Chinese Lake?”.
• Associate Professor Anne-Marie Brady, University of Canterbury—“China, Taiwan, and the South Pacific from a NZ Perspective”.

Duration: 1:36:09

Second half of session

View video

• Introduced by Professor Xiaoming Huang, Director of NZ Contemporary China Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington.
• Dr Jian Yang, Auckland University—“Myths about China’s Growing Involvement in the South Pacific”.
• Dr Marc Lanteigne, Victoria University of Wellington—“China’s Regional Commercial Diplomacy and the US Response”.
• Closing Remarks by Mr Michael Powles, Victoria University of Wellington—Centre for Stragetic Studies.

Duration: 1:21:47