Summary
China has called on the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to uphold the One-China principle and handle Taiwan-related issues properly. Taiwan was excluded from last year's forum hosted by Solomon Islands, but may attend this year's meeting in Palau. The author argues that China should remain engaged rather than withdraw, as this bears on the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and its Oceania strategy.
Since 2021, the BRI has entered a phase of high-quality development, prioritising quality over quantity and adding 'small and beautiful' projects, with cooperation focused on Global South countries under the 'four focuses' principle. Specific plans have yet to be unveiled.
Commentary
China's position on Taiwan at the Pacific Islands Forum will shape the Belt and Road's footprint in Oceania. New Zealand SMEs should take note: as Beijing shifts its infrastructure investment in Pacific island states towards 'small and beautiful' projects, regional logistics hubs and subcontracting markets stand to be reshaped. The risk lies in diplomatic friction hampering trade facilitation, while the opportunity is that port and road investment could lower transshipment costs for New Zealand exports.
Wellington has room to move into niche areas such as engineering consultancy and cold-chain logistics, and should track project tenders in Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Keywords: Belt and Road, Pacific Islands Forum, One-China principle, Taiwan, high-quality development, Global South, four focuses, diplomatic strategy
Source: China Overseas Chinese Network
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