China sends Papua New Guinea a clear message on vaccines

China has had a good week in terms of its influence in the South Pacific. The fracturing going on within the Pacific Forum can only enhance China's influence in the region and erode ours.

If the Taiwan-aligned Forum members withdraw, as Palau has said it will, then the capacity of China to influence the Forum can only increase. The Forum is located in Fiji, which has extremely close relations with the Peoples Republic of China. The new Forum Secretary General is from The Cook Islands, a "Belt and Road" signatory.

Any suggestion that the pandemic has forced China to lessen its influence and activity in the South Pacific is just wishful thinking. It is as active, and as aggressive, as ever.

The incident involving the Acting PNG Foreign Minister is but the latest evidence of that fact.