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Oceania is, to the People's Republic of China (PRC; "China") and the Republic of China (ROC; "Taiwan"), a stage for continuous diplomatic competition. The One China Policy dictates that no state can diplomatically recognize the sovereignty of both the PRC and the ROC, as they both officially claim to be the ''legitimate Government of China''. As of 2009, eight states in Oceania recognise the PRC, and six recognise the ROC. These numbers fluctuate as Pacific Island nations re-evaluate their foreign policies, and occasionally shift diplomatic recognition between Beijing and Taipei. The issue of which "Chinese" government to recognize has become a central theme in the elections of numerous Pacific Island nations, and has led to several votes of no-confidence. Although both Australia and New Zealand have long recognized the PRC and maintain stable and cordial relationships, the PRC and the ROC continue to actively court diplomatic favours from small Pacific island nations, which commentators have referred to as "chequebook diplomacy", usually in the form of developmental aid, or in the case of the PRC, by providing assistance in building large government complexes, stadia, or infrastructure.〔("The Pacific Proxy: China vs Taiwan" ), Graeme Dobell, ABC Radio Australia, February 7, 2007〕 According to Taiwanese newspaper ''The China Post'', "Taiwan and China compete ferociously for diplomatic ties, and both sides have given away millions of dollars to bolster diplomatic relations or steal allies from each other."〔("Taiwan president hopes summit will boost ties with South Pacific allies" ), ''China Post'', October 11, 2007〕 Several Pacific island states receive significant amounts of development aid from the ROC or the PRC. Hamish McDonald of ''The Age'' thus reported in 2003 that "()laying off China against Taiwan for diplomatic recognition continues as a lucrative export earner for tiny Pacific island nations". The ROC's Pacific allies pledge in return to promote Taiwan's interests in the United Nations, and do so actively. In addition, several Pacific countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and Samoa have ethnic minorities of Chinese descent among their citizens. There are an estimated 80,000 "overseas Chinese" in the Pacific Islands and Papua New Guinea, including 20,000 in Fiji and 20,000 in Papua New Guinea. Countries including Australia, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu have also attracted Chinese businesses and investments.〔 ==Regional policies of the People's Republic of China== In 2003, the People's Republic of China announced it intended to enhance its diplomatic ties with the Pacific Islands Forum, and increase the economic aid package it provided to that organisation. At the same time, PRC delegate Zhou Whenzhong added: "()he PIF should refrain from any exchanges of an official nature or dialogue partnership of any form with Taiwan".〔("China announces initiatives to expand ties with PIF member countries" ), PRC embassy in Papua New Guinea, November 24, 2003〕 In 2006, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced that the PRC would increase its economic cooperation with Pacific Island States. The PRC would provide more economic aid, abolish tariffs for exports from the Pacific's least developed countries, annul the debt of those countries, distribute free anti-malaria medicines, and provide training for two thousand Pacific Islander government officials and technical staff.〔("China offers aid package to Pacific Islands" ), ''China Daily'', April 5, 2006〕 Also in 2006, Wen became the first Chinese premier to visit the Pacific islands, which the ''Taipei Times'' described as "a longtime diplomatic battleground for China and Taiwan". Similarly, according to Ron Crocombe, Professor of Pacific Studies at the University of the South Pacific, "There have been more Pacific Islands minister visits to China than to any other country".〔("Chinese Premier Wen to visit the Pacific Islands" ), ''Taipei Times'', April 3, 2006〕 In 2007, Xinhua, the official press agency of the PRC, stated that Pacific Islands Forum member countries had "spoke() highly of the generous assistance China has provided to the region over the past many years and expressed the hope for a further enhanced cooperation with China".〔("China, Pacific islands countries ties important" ), Xinhua, October 19, 2007〕 In December 2007, Dr John Lee of the magazine ''Islands Business'' asked himself and his readers: :''"Why is China so interested in the Pacific? After all, despite the differences in size, population, wealth, and influence between China and islands in the region, the Chinese have literally rolled out the red carpet for Pacific leaders. Meetings between Chinese and Pacific leaders are not perfunctory ‘meet and greets’ in the bland boardrooms of hotels. They are often elaborate state functions with all the bells and whistles that state meetings can offer. () In a word, the Chinese want ‘influence’. China sends more diplomats around the world than any other country. () In terms of the Pacific, there is a more disturbing game being played out, namely the ‘chequebook diplomacy’, that is taking place between China and Taiwan in their competition for diplomatic recognition at the expense of the other. Taiwan matters profoundly to China—and it is largely why China is interested in the Pacific."''〔("What do the Chinese really want?" ), Dr John Lee, ''Islands Business'', December 2007〕 That same month, John Henderson of Canterbury University stated that, in his view, many Pacific Islanders are worried "that their livelihood is being taken away by Chinese traders coming in, often getting in buying political privileges, playing a role in rigging elections". Henderson suggested that the 2006 anti-Chinese riots in Tonga and Solomon Islands could be repeated in countries such as Fiji and Vanuatu. He added that this might lead the PRC to increase its role in the region further, in order to protect ethnic Chinese Pacific Islanders.〔("Pacific politics expert warns more riots possible" ), TV3 (New Zealand), December 13, 2007〕 A spokesman for the Chinese embassy in Fiji, Hu Lihua, responded by stating: "China does not pose a military threat to any other country. China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion."〔("China says it is for peace and not power politics" ), ''Fiji Times'', December 18, 2007〕 A representative of Fiji's Chinese community similarly rejected the idea that there might be anti-Chinese riots in Fiji, and added: "The Chinese in Fiji have an excellent relationship with locals and we contribute toward the economy. We have been successful in understanding local customs. Many of us have learnt the language and have assimilated."〔("Chinese say they are at home" ), ''Fiji Times'', December 22, 2007〕 The final report of the April 2008 Australia 2020 Summit addressed China's influence in the Pacific in the following terms: :''"It was noted that so far China did not seem interested in exporting its political values. Its interaction with the region was economically focused or motivated by rivalry with Taiwan.'' :''Noting China’s growing military power and its emerging role as a major aid donor in the region, participants agreed that while China’s visibility had increased rapidly there remained uncertainty over what it was seeking to achieve, especially in the long term. Securing energy supplies was one obvious goal. One strand of thought that had emerged was that the Chinese themselves were not entirely clear about their aims in the region."''〔(Australia 2020 final report ), p.363, Australian government website〕 In June 2008, a report from the Lowy Institute stated that China's aid policy towards the Pacific was almost certainly aimed solely at encouraging Pacific countries not to grant diplomatic recognition to Taiwan, and that there was no sign of the PRC attempting to increase its military influence or its access to the region's natural resources.〔("Report questions China aid to Pacific" ), ABC Radio Australia, June 11, 2008〕 Reuters reports that, according to the Institute's findings, "China's chequebook diplomacy in the South Pacific and secrecy over its aid programme to small island nations is having a destabilising impact on the region", due to "concerns that dollar diplomacy was influencing local politics."〔("China's aid diplomacy destabilises Pacific - report" ), Reuters, June 11, 2008〕 A spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry responded: "This assistance is on the basis of mutual benefit. It must help the local economy to develop and promote people's livelihoods. China would never interfere in these countries' internal affairs."〔("China rejects charge of aid diplomacy in Pacific" ), Reuters, June 12, 2008〕〔("No political pre-conditions attached in China's aid to Pacific island countries" ), Xinhua, June 12, 2008〕 In June 2009, parliamentary delegations from four Pacific Island countries were jointly received by Wu Bangguo, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The delegation comprised Isaac Figir, Speaker of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, Tu'ilakepa, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Manu Korovulavula, head of the Public Accounting Commission of Fiji, and Billy Talagi, head of the Legislative Committee of Niue (a dependent territory of New Zealand).〔("China vows to enhance parliamentary exchanges with Pacific island nations" ), Xinhua, June 17, 2009〕〔("Prochaine visite en Chine de délégations parlementaires du Pacifique" ), Radio Chine Internationale, June 12, 2009〕 The delegation also met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who spoke of increased "economic and trade cooperation"; Xinhua reported that the Pacific Island legislators "expressed appreciation for China's assistance" and "reiterated their countries' adherence to the one-China policy".〔("Chinese premier urges more economic cooperation with Pacific island countries" ), Xinhua, June 16, 2009〕 In August and September 2010, the People's Liberation Army Navy began an unprecedented "goodwill visit" to its Pacific allies, touring Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Zealand and Australia. Its aim, as reported by the ''People's Daily'' during the ships' four-day stop in Tonga, was "enhancing friendship and strengthening military cooperation".〔("Chinese Navy ships makes first visit to Tonga" ), ''People's Daily'', September 3, 2010〕 In April 2011, the Lowy Institute issued a new report noting that China, in its approach to the Pacific, had been "shifting from grant aid to soft loans", which were "leading to increasing problems of indebtedness" and "making Pacific governments vulnerable to political pressure from Beijing". The report suggested that countries may struggle to repay the loans within the set timeframe, and that "outstanding loans may well tie Pacific countries to Beijing", in a context of diplomatic competition with Taipei. The report also noted, however, that some loans "are destined for projects that will create economic growth; growth that will create jobs, reduce poverty and help make repayments".〔("FEATURE: China in the Pacific" ), ABC Radio Australia, April 4, 2011〕 In May 2011, addressing the University of South Pacific in Suva, PRC Ambassador to Fiji Han Zhiqiang stated that Sino-Pacific cooperation had resulted in "plenty of substantial outcomes and benefits for the people in this region". He indicated that the volume of trade between the PRC and Pacific Island countries had increased by about 50% between 2009 and 2010, reaching € 2.46 billion. The value of China's exports to the region that year was €1.74 billion (up by 42% from 2009), while the value of its imports from the Pacific Islands was €730 million, up almost 100%. Chinese investments in the Pacific Islands in 2010 -primarily to Samoa, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea and Fiji- had reached almost €72 million.〔("China-Pacific island countries' ties of cooperation boom in many areas: Chinese ambassador" ), Xinhua, May 5, 2011〕 In April 2012 China continued to widen its diplomatic influence with loans and aid with the region.〔(China Seeks to Star in South Pacific; Beijing Widens Diplomatic Reach With Loans, Aid, in Challenge to U.S.; Subtle Reminders in Tonga ) April 27, 2012〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Sino-Pacific relations」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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