Chinese Statecraft in the Pacific Islands

This week, Mike and Jude sit down with Pete Connolly, a
retired officer in the Australian Defence Force and Adjunct Fellow
with the Asia Program at CSIS, to discuss Chinese statecraft in the
Pacific Islands. They start by unpacking China’s strategic
interests in Melanesia and the Pacific Islands more broadly, and
what its involvement in the region means for the U.S., Australia,
and other allies and partners. Next, they dive into the
military implications of increasing Chinese activity in the region.
They then unpack allied interests in the Pacific Islands and local
perceptions of China, the U.S., and Australia.