Historic US-Pacific summit begins

The first ever United States summit with the countries of the Pacific is underway in Washington D.C.

Twelve nations have sent their leaders, and two - Nauru and Vanuatu - have sent representatives, while New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands Forum are there as observers.

The meeting begins with the leaders being hosted at the State Department by Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken.

At lunch the group will be hosted by the US's Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, to discuss the most pressing issue for Pacific countries.

Illegal fishing will be the key topic when they visit the Coast Guard.

On the second day, the leaders will meet various government agencies and business leaders to discuss how to improve economic and commercial links with the US.

In the afternoon, President Biden and the Pacific leaders will consider the strategic importance of the Pacific, climate change, pandemic response, economic recovery, and maritime security.

The leaders will then join President Biden at the White House for dinner.

White House Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell said last week the summit would focus on issues such as climate change and health. Washington and its allies want to boost maritime security and island states' communications links with countries like Japan, Australia and India, he said.

It is the first time the United States has hosted so many leaders of a region it has considered its maritime backyard since World War Two, but into which China has been making steady advances. Some nations have complained about being caught in the middle of the superpowers' battle for influence.

Washington also will unveil a detailed new strategy specifically for the Pacific, a senior Biden administration official told reporters.

Solomon Islands ties to China

Solomon Islands earlier told nations invited to the summit it will not sign the declaration under discussion, according to a note seen by Reuters, prompting further concern over its ties to China.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has repeatedly appeared to snub the United States, heightening Washington's concerns.

Strategic competition in the Pacific intensified dramatically this year after China signed a security agreement with the Solomons, prompting warnings of a militarization of the region.

The official who briefed journalists acknowledged that Washington had not paid the Pacific enough attention over the years and had been working closely with allied and partner countries "to add more resources, more capacity, more diplomatic engagement."

"We will have big dollar numbers," he said, adding that some of these would be announced on Wednesday.

"We have sought to align our strategy to meet their goals and objectives," he said referring to the 2050 Blue Pacific Continent Strategy Pacific leaders have announced that prioritizes action on climate change.

Blinken pledged US$4.8 million for a program, called Resilient Blue Economies, to support sustainable fisheries, agriculture and tourism.

Wednesday's talks will include a session hosted by U.S. special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry.

A source familiar with the discussions said the White House was working with the private sector to roll out an agreement on undersea cables for the region, calling it "a reaction to China's diplomacy and military expansion."

The Pacific countries are keen for greater connectivity amongst themselves and with allies, however they have repeatedly stressed that Washington should accept their priorities, making climate change - not superpower competition - the most urgent security task.

The Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo said on Tuesday participants had been working on a summit declaration - "a vision statement" - that would cover five themes, including human-centered development, tackling climate change, geopolitics and security of the Pacific region and more broadly, as well as commerce and industry and trade ties.

However, attempts to reach a final text ran into problems this week when during a call with Pacific islands ambassadors, the U.S. State Department demanded the removal of language agreed to by the island countries that the United States address the Marshall Islands nuclear issue, three sources, including a Pacific island diplomat, told Reuters.

Speaking at Georgetown University, Panuelo said: "In any negotiation, there are red lines and then there are things you give and take, and you'll reach some common ground."

"Every country will have to do what's in their best interests, but we call on the superpowers when they come in and talk to the Pacific Islands countries that they keep with us on the terms of the issues that are most important for our region."

- RNZ Pacific/Reuters