PACS 492: China in Oceania

PACS 492: TOPICS IN PACIFIC ISLANDS STUDIES (CHINA IN OCEANIA)

SUMMER 2021, SESSION 2
Online, Asynchronous

COURSE INFORMATION

Instructor: Henryk Szadziewski

E-mail: henryksz@hawaii.edu
Office Hours: By appointment

Course Description
Over the last two decades the Peoples Republic of China has become a major aid donor, trade
partner, and source of investment in the Pacific Islands. This is one of the most significant
developments in the region in recent times with implications for the diplomatic priorities of
Pacific Islands states as well as the aspirations of ordinary Pacific Islanders. This course looks at
the history of China’s rise, the nature of its interests in the region, as well as the response of
more established external actors like Australia, New Zealand, and the United States to Beijing’s
increased regional influence. Key questions include: how have Pacific Islands states benefitted
from or been disadvantaged by China’s increased regional profile? How have responses differed
between states across the region? Will they be able to retain their sovereign agency as the rivalry
between China and the US and its Western allies intensifies? How do ordinary citizens view
these developments, particularly as Chinese companies and Chinese nationals become more
active in their communities?

Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, students can
1) Understand the historical and social contexts of Chinese peoples’ presence across Oceania.
2) Describe and discuss key aspects of China’s rise as a global power, and the nature of its
activities in Oceania.
3) Discuss the impact of China’s increased profile on existing relations of power in the region,
particularly those involving partners such as the US, Australia, and New Zealand.
4) Analyze the influence of China’s presence on the economic, political, and diplomatic goals
of Pacific island countries.
5) Evaluate the implications of China’s rise for the present circumstances and future aspirations
of Pacific islanders.

Class Format
The class is entirely online and writing intensive. We will “meet” twice a week on Tuesday and
Thursday to examine key issues and texts. Please ensure you have access to the class on Laulima,
as texts, discussion questions, and class notices will be posted to the class page. The Laulima
discussions are the part of the class where you have the opportunity to interact with other
students and the instructor to ask questions and debate the role of Chinese presence in Oceania.

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Assignments
You are expected to:
1) Join written discussions on the assigned texts for each class through Laulima
2) Write six reflection papers based on the assigned texts
3) Submit a session paper on a topic

Grades will be assigned as follows:

1) Laulima discussion (24 paragraphs x 1% each) 24%
2) Reflection papers (6 papers x 6% each) 36%
3) Term paper 40%

Assessment is as follows:
1) A= 90%-100%; B= 80%-89%; C=70%-79%; D= 60%-69%; F= <60%
2) Pluses and minuses will be assigned.

Laulima discussion:
Discussion questions for each session are in this syllabus. I will post these discussion questions
on Laulima for you to add your contributions for each class. Questions for Tuesday’s class will
be posted on the Sunday evening before. The discussion will be closed every Tuesday at
midnight. Questions for Thursday’s class will be posted on the Tuesday evening before. The
discussion will be closed every Thursday at midnight.

For each class, write a paragraph on at least two of the questions. Also, post at least one reply to
another student each week. Over the entire session, you should have posted 24 paragraphs. If you
post 12 replies to other students (one for each class), I’ll add 5% extra credit. (WLO2).

Reflection papers (two pages doubled spaced):

These papers should summarize your response to the assigned texts in both classes for the week.
You need to turn in six of these papers over the course of the semester. These papers are due the
Monday following the week’s classes:

1) Reflection paper 1 is due on July 12

2) Reflection paper 2 is due on July 19
3) Reflection paper 3 is due on July 26
4) Reflection paper 4 is due on August 2
5) Reflection paper 5 is due on August 9
6) Reflection paper 6 is due on August 16

Papers don’t have be formal, but the text should be coherent and easy to comprehend. There are
no fixed rules regarding content, but you should at least indicate what you have learned from the
texts, and what conceptual or other issues they raised for you. Above all, these papers should be
thoughtful and indicate that you have read the material carefully and thought about with relevant
issues. Papers should mention all of the texts assigned for a particular week. (WLO2) (WLO3).

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Term paper:
The term paper should be submitted by Monday, August 16, 2021. It should be double-spaced,
12-14 pages in length (excluding references), and address a topic closely related to the subject
matter of the course. (WLO1).

A one-page outline of the proposed paper must be submitted by Monday, August 2, 2021. Your
outline should indicate the topic, the main issues to be discussed, and the published and other
materials to be used. (WLO2) (WLO3).

Instructor feedback:
I will offer continual feedback on your written assignments throughout the class. For paragraph
writing, I will moderate the discussion and offer guidance on content within the Laulima forum.
With reflection papers, I expect you to develop new ideas from class materials. You should
expect comments from me on how to maintain control over longer form writing toward clarity of
comprehension and structure. As for the term paper, I will work with you on developing your
topic at the outline stage, offering advice on sources, organizing your paper, and working with
academic conventions. I will give you feedback on the cohesion, coherence, and comprehension
of language and content in your final paper.

Texts and resources

Assigned texts will be provided in electronic format on the class Laulima website. There are no
assigned texts, but the following books provide useful historical background from a regional
perspective:
1) Ron Crocombe. 2007. Asia in the Pacific Islands: Replacing the West.
2) Anne-Marie Brady (ed.). 2010. Looking North, Looking South: China, Taiwan, and the
South Pacific.
3) Terence Wesley-Smith and Edgar Porter (eds.). 2010. China in Oceania: Reshaping the
Pacific.
4) Michael Powles (ed.). 2016. China and the Pacific: The View from Oceania.
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/chinaresearchcentre/programmes-and-projects/china-
symposiums/china-and-the-pacific-the-view-from-oceania.
5) Graeme Smith and Terence Wesley-Smith (eds.). 2021. The China Alternative Changing
Regional Order in the Pacific Islands. https://pressfiles.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n7754
/pdf/book.pdf.

Useful Internet resources include:

1) ABYZ News Links: Oceania Newspapers and News Media Guide
http://www.abyznewslinks.com/pacif.htm
2) Islands Business
https://www.islandsbusiness.com/
3) Radio New Zealand: Pacific News
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news
4) Radio Australia: Pacific Beat

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https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/
5) The Guardian: The Pacific Project
https://www.theguardian.com/world/series/the-pacific-project

COURSE OUTLINE

PART 1: CHINESE PRESENCE IN CONTEXT

Week 1.1 (July 6): Introduction and Chinese People in Oceania

Migrants from China to the Pacific Islands region are more visible in Oceania. However, the
current engagement between China and Oceanic states and peoples fits in to a longer arc of
Chinese presence in Oceania. Scholars have identified staged migrations traceable to the 19th
century of Chinese traders, indentured workers and political refugees settling in the Pacific
Islands. The historical context of Pacific Island and Chinese relations is important to consider, as
it demonstrates that exchanges are not only long-standing, but also evolving with political and
economic conditions.

Questions:
(1) Why are you interested in the subject matter of this course?
(2) What were the main factors in the historical migration of Chinese to Oceania?
(3) Do you think Chinese people migrate for different reasons in the contemporary age?

Texts:
(1) Paul D'Arcy. 2014. The Chinese pacifics: A brief historical review. Journal of Pacific
History, 49(4), pp. 396-420.
(2) Bill Willmot. 2008. Origins of the Chinese in the South Pacific. In A. Reid (ed.), The Chinese
Diaspora in the Pacific, pp. 277-288.
(3) Bill Willmott. 2005. A History of the Chinese Communities in Eastern Melanesia: Solomon
Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia. Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of
Canterbury. Working Paper 12, pp. 9-30 & 33-45.

Week 1.2 (July 8): China’s Rise

In this session we will explore our thoughts about China’s rise and gain an overview of the
economic transformation of this huge country over the last 70 years, one of the most important
global developments in recent times. China growing economic and military power make it a
major actor on the international stage, as well as the most significant challenge to U.S. global
dominance.

Questions:
(1) What factors account for China’s incredible economic expansion in recent decades?
(2) What does it mean for the people of Oceania?
(3) What are the implications of this transformation for the rest of world?

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Texts:
(1) China: Rise of an Asian Giant. 2019. Insight, CAN, Singapore, 50 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIF-ujSeQho
(2) Frank Pieke. 2016. Knowing China: A Twenty-First Century Guide. Cambridge University
Press, Chapters 1, 3, and 6.

PART 2: CHINA’S GEOSTRATEGY IN OCEANIA

Week 2.1 (July 13): The Geopolitics of Fear and Agency

Since the beginning of the colonial era the Pacific Islands region has been heavily influenced by
a small number of Western countries including the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and France.
These external powers are still very influential as trade, aid, and diplomatic partners, despite the
fact that most island territories achieved independence in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. China’s
rising profile in the region since about 2006 has disturbed the Western monopoly on outside
influence and provided island leaders with more diplomatic, political, and economic options.
Here we examine how China has been a perceived as a threat and an opportunity to the region.

Questions:
(1) Which external powers have been involved in the Pacific Islands region and why?
(2) Why are Pacific leaders pushing back against the influence of some traditional partners?
(3) Why is China interested in cultivating relations with island countries?
(4) What does this mean for island diplomatic and other agendas?

Texts:
(1) Tamara Renee Shie. 2007. Rising Chinese Influence in the South Pacific: Beijing’s “Island
Fever”. Asian Survey, 47(2), pp. 307-326.
(2) Marc Lanteigne. 2016. Water dragon? China, power shifts and soft balancing in the South
Pacific. Political Science, 64(1), pp. 21-38.
(3) Terence Wesley-Smith. 2007. China in Oceania: New Forces in Pacific Politics.
(4) Terence Wesley-Smith. 2016. The China Alternative: Geopolitics, Islander Agency, and
Changing Regional Order in Oceania. Center for Pacific Island Countries Studies, Guangdong
University of Foreign Studies, 17 June. http://giis.gdufs.edu.cn/info/1360/7426.htm.
(5) Yu Changsen. 2016. The Pacific Islands in China’s Geo-Strategic Thinking. In M. Powles
(ed.), China and the Pacific: The View from Oceania.

Week 2.2 (July 15): China-Taiwan Competition and the Pacific

Taiwan, or the Republic of China, seeks diplomatic recognition from other countries, including
in Oceania, as the legitimate government of China, while the People’s Republic of China insists
on a “one China” policy that regards Taiwan as a renegade province. Relations between Taiwan
and the PRC have undergone cycles of thaw and freeze. In recent years, the PRC has moved
aggressively to persuade Taiwan’s allies to switch their recognition to China, including Solomon
Islands and Kiribati in 2019. This has left Taiwan with four diplomatic partners in Oceania
(Nauru, Tuvalu, Palau, and Marshall Islands). Taiwan is regarded as a major factor influencing

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China’s interest in Oceania, and the U.S. has pressured Taiwan’s existing partners to not switch
to the PRC. Pacific countries that have switched sides have apparently done so because China
can offer them more substantial economic benefits.

Questions:
(1) What is the nature of the dispute between China and Taiwan? Has it changed over time?
(2) How are Pacific Island countries involved in this dispute? Why have some Pacific countries
switched sides?
(3) What are the implications for the region as more countries recognize Beijing?

Texts:
(1) John Henderson. 2000. China, Taiwan and the changing strategic significance of Oceania.
Revue Juridique Polynesienne, 1(1), pp. 143-156.
(1) Joel Atkinson. 2010. China-Taiwan Diplomatic Competition and the Pacific Islands. The
Pacific Review, 23(4), pp. 407-427.
(2) Zhang Denghua. 2019. Comparing China’s and Taiwan’s Aid to the Pacific. In Brief
2019/20, ANU, Department of Pacific Affairs.
(3) Jessica Marinaccio. 2019. Rearticulating Diplomatic Relationships: Contextualizing Tuvalu-
Taiwan Relations. The Contemporary Pacific, 31(2), pp. 448-475.

PART 3: CHINA’S ECONOMIC “ROADS”

Week 3.1 (July 20): Chinese Aid to Oceania

In recent years China’s aid to Oceania has increased dramatically and Beijing is now the second
largest donor in the region. Although some of this support takes the form of grants, much of it is
distributed in the form of concessionary loans (i.e., loans at favorable interest rates) or
commercial loans for infrastructure development (i.e., buildings, roads, ports, airports, and
communications). We will examine how China’s development assistance differs from that
provided by other donors. At the same time, Chinese companies, many of them state owned
corporations, are increasing active across the region and involved in resource extraction,
construction, and retail operations as well as bidding for government contracts.

Questions:
(1) What form does Chinese aid take?
(2) How is Chinese aid different from the development assistance provided by other donors?
(3) Is the fact that much Chinese aid takes the form of loans a problem for Pacific Island
countries?
(4) Do Chinese companies operate differently from other foreign companies active in Oceania?

Texts:
(1) Philippa Brant. 2015. The Geopolitics of Chinese Aid: Mapping Beijing’s Funding in the
Pacific. Foreign Affairs, 4 March. https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/geopolitics-
chinese-aid.

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(2) Matthew Dornan and Philippa Brant. 2014. Chinese Assistance in the Pacific: Agency,
Effectiveness, and the Role of Pacific Island Governments. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies
1(2), pp. 349-363.
(3) Rohan Fox and Matthew Dornan. 2018. China in the Pacific: Is China engaged in “debt-trap
diplomacy”? Dev Policy Blog, 8 November.
(4) Tarcisius Kabutaulaka. 2015. China and Natural Resource Developments in Oceania:
Feeding the Dragon. In Michael Powles (ed.), China and the Pacific: The View from Oceania.

Week 3.2 (July 22): The Belt and Road Initiative in Oceania
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), first announced in 2013, is President Xi Jinping’s signature
foreign and economic policy. It is a hugely ambitious plan to create trade and development
corridors from China through numerous countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the
Americas, and Oceania. The BRI has two components, the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt
and the ocean-based 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Pacific Island countries that
recognize Beijing (as opposed to those that recognize Taiwan) have all signed up for the
initiative. This allows them to access funding for infrastructure development projects.

Questions :
(1) What is the BRI and what does it involve?
(2) What are the implications of this initiative for the region?
(3) How might external actors (in Australia, North America, and Europe) perceive the BRI
in Oceania?

Texts:
(1) Nadège Rolland. 2019. A Concise Guide to the Belt and Road Initiative. The National
Bureau of Asian Research, April 11.
(2) Henryk Szadziewski. 2021. The Search for Coherence: The Belt and Road Initiative in
the Pacific Islands. In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing
Regional Order in the Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(3) Zhang Denghua. 2017. Pacific Island Countries, China & Sustainable Development Goals,
Part 2: The Belt and Road Initiative. In Brief 2017/18, ANU, Department of Pacific Affairs.
(4) Roland Rajah, Alexandre Dayant, and Jonathan Pryke. 2019. Ocean of debt? Belt and Road
and debt diplomacy in the Pacific, Lowy Institute.

PART 4: POLITICAL GEOGRAPHIES OF RESPONSE

Week 4.1 (July 27): Regional Responses

As external interest in Oceania has ramped up, Pacific leaders have developed their own ways of
asserting their sovereign independence in the face of the competing agendas of outside powers.
A look at strategies adopted by the leaders to protect their agency, particularly when it comes to
issues of greatest regional concern such as climate change. Among other things, leaders have
started referring to the region as the Blue Pacific to counter the idea of the Indo-Pacific being

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promoted by the US, or China’s idea that the islands are part of the 21st Century Maritime Silk
Road.

Questions :
(1) How do external powers “map” the region and what are the implications of these
mapping exercises for the Pacific Islands?
(2) What is “the new Pacific diplomacy,” and what are its main characteristics? How does
the rise of China facilitate this movement?
(3) Why is the idea of the Blue Pacific significant?

Texts:
(1) Tarcisius Kabutaulaka. 2021. Mapping the Blue Pacific in the Changing Regional Order. In
G. Smith and Terence Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in
the Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(2) Meg Taylor. 2021. Opening Remarks. In Graeme Smith and Terence Wesley-Smith (eds) The
China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in
Laulima” for a copy).
(3) Anote Tong. 2015. Charting its Own Course: A Paradigm Shift in Pacific Diplomacy. In G.
Fry and S. Tarte (eds.), The New Pacific Diplomacy.
(4) Greg Fry and Sandra Tarte. 2015. The “New Pacific Diplomacy”: An Introduction. In G. Fry
and S. Tarte (eds.), The New Pacific Diplomacy.

Week 4.2 (July 29): External Responses

The US and its Western allies are concerned about China’s increased profile in Oceania, a region
they have long regarded as their sphere of interest. They are worried that they will lose political
and economic influence in Oceania, and particularly about the possibility that China is seeking to
establish a military presence and thereby threaten Western strategic interests in the region. In
recent years Australia (Pacific Step-up), New Zealand (Pacific Reset), and the US (Pacific
Pledge) have announced policies to counter what they see as the China threat.

Questions:
(1) How have Western countries responded to China’s increased influence in Oceania?
(2) What do these new policies involve?
(3) What are the implications of this increased interest in the region by Western countries?

Texts:
(1) Merriden Varrall. 2021. Australia’s Response to China in the Pacific: From Alert to Alarm.
In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the
Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(2) Iati Iati. 2021. China’s Impact on New Zealand Foreign Policy in the Pacific: The Pacific
Reset. In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order
in the Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).

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(3) Gerard Finin. 2021. Associations Freely Chosen: The New Geopolitical Environment in the
Northwest Pacific. In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing
Regional Order in the Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).

PART 5: CASE STUDIES I AND II

Week 5.1 (August 3): Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu
Pacific leaders have generally welcomed China’s increased attention to the region and eagerly
signed agreements with Beijing that bring more aid, trade, and investment to their countries. In
some cases, they have seen other benefits from diversifying their sources of support beyond their
traditional partners (often the former colonial power) whose aid often comes with strings
attached. We are going to analyze how this has worked out in specific Pacific island countries.

Questions:
(1) Why did a particular Pacific country decide to open relations with China?
(2) What have been the benefits and costs of engaging with China?

Texts:
(1) Transform Aqorau. 2021. Taiwan or China? Solomon Islands’ Foreign Policy Dilemma. In
G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the
Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(2) Sandra Tarte. Forthcoming. Building a Strategic Partnership: Fiji-China Relations since 2008.
In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the
Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(4) Graeme Smith. Nupela Masta? Local and expatriate labour in a Chinese-run nickel mine in
Papua New Guinea. Asian Studies Review, 37(2), pp. 178-195.
(5) Radio Free Asia. 2020. One Belt, One Road: Vanuatu. https://www.rfa.org/english/news/
special/one-belt-one-road/vanuatu.html.
(6) Ben Bohane. 2018. South Pacific Nation Shrugs Off Worries on China’s Influence. The New
York Times, June 13. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/13/world/asia/vanuatu-china-
wharf.html.

Week 5.2 (August 5): Federated States of Micronesia and Kiribati

Questions:
(1) Why did a particular Pacific country decide to open relations with China?
(2) What have been the benefits and costs of engaging with China?
(3) How would you assess the tone of the media reporting on China’s relationships with FSM
and Kiribati?

Texts:

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(1) Kate Lyons. 2019. Taiwan loses second ally in a week as Kiribati switches to China. The
Guardian, Pacific Project, September 20. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/20/
taiwan-loses-second-ally-in-a-week-as-kiribati-switches-to-china.
(2) Kate Lyons. 2020. 'On right side of history': Xi Jinping praises Kiribati for switch to China.
The Guardian, Pacific Project, January 7.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/07/china-xi-jinping-praises-kiribati-for-switch-
taiwan.
(3) Melissa Clarke. 2020. China's Pacific push reverberates as Kiribati's pro-Beijing president
wins re-election. ABC, June 25. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-26/china-pacific-push-
kiribati-presidential-elections/12394358.
(4) Christopher Pala. 2020. Kiribati re-embraces China: Contested Waters. Asia and the Pacific
Policy Society, Policy Forum, August 17. https://www.policyforum.net/kiribati-re-embraces-
china/.
(5) Bill Jaynes. 2017. FSM President Opens Up About Official Visit to China. Pacific Islands
Report, April 25. http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/04/25/fsm-president-opens-about-
official-visit-china.
(6) Mackenzie Smith. 2019. Chinese developers in FSM face hitches amid growing opposition.
Radio New Zealand, May 9. https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/388831/chinese-
developers-in-fsm-face-hitches-amid-growing-opposition.
(7) Derek Grossman and Michael Chase. 2019. Maintaining the US edge in the Freely
Associated States. East Asia Forum, September 2.
https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2019/09/02/maintaining-the-us-edge-in-the-freely-associated-
states/.
(8) Zhang Denghua and Gonzaga Puas. 2020. China meets its limits in Micronesia. East Asia
Forum, April 8. https://www.eastasiaforum.org/2020/04/08/china-meets-its-limits-in-
micronesia/.

PART 6: CASE STUDIES III AND GROUNDED RESPONSES

Week 6.1 (August 10): Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa, and Tonga

Questions:
(1) Why did a particular Pacific country decide to open relations with China?
(2) What have been the benefits and costs of engaging with China?
(3) In what ways, do your responses to (1) and (2) for Week 6.1 differ from Week 5.1 and 5.2?

Texts:
(1) Iati Iati. 2010. China and Samoa. In T. Wesley-Smith and E. Porter (eds.), China in Oceania:
Reshaping the Pacific? pp. 151-163. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(2) Palenitina Langa'oi. 2010. China’s Diplomatic Relations with the Kingdom of Tonga. In T.
Wesley-Smith and E. Porter (eds.), China in Oceania: Reshaping the Pacific? pp. 164-178. (See
“Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).

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(3) Pesi Fonua. 2015. China and the Pacific: A View from Tonga. In Michael Powles (ed.),
China and the Pacific: The View from Oceania, 139-143.
(4) Toeolesulusulu Damon Salesa. 2015. Chinese-Samoan Interactions – Influence Both Ways:
Entangled and Intimate Histories. In Michael Powles (ed.), China and the Pacific: The View
from Oceania, pp. 123-7.
(5) Matthew Rosenberg and Hamish Rutherford. 2018. Government blindsided as Niue signs up
to Chinese blandishments. Stuff, November 4. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/108331406/
government-blindsided-as-niue-signs-up-to-chinese-blandishments.
(6) Cook Islands News. 2019. Cook Islands attend China forum. May 4. https://www.cookislands
news.com/national/cook-islands-attend-china-forum/.
(7) Jonathan Barrett and Praveen Menon. 2021. Pacific island nations turn to Beijing-backed
AIIB as pandemic sinks economies. Reuters, January 24. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-
china-pacific-cookislands/pacific-island-nations-turn-to-beijing-backed-aiib-as-pandemic-sinks-
economies-idUSKBN29U00A?il=0.

Week 6.2 (August 12): Community Concerns

Pacific leaders’ enthusiasm for expanding their relations with China is not always shared by
ordinary Pacific islanders, who express concern about the activities of Chinese companies and
the increased presence of Chinese migrants. Island contractors are unhappy with the fact that
China-funded infrastructure projects often use materials and labor imported from China, and
businessmen are alarmed that the retail sector is increasingly controlled by Chinese businesses.
There are also concerns about environmental damage associated with Chinese development
projects, and about increasing Chinese real estate investment especially in urban areas.

Questions:
(1) What concerns do ordinary citizens express about China’s increased influence? Are those
concerns justified? Are they being addressed? What are the implications if these concerns are not
addressed?
(2) Where do the new Chinese migrants come from and why are they coming?

Texts:
(1) Patrick Matbob. 2021. On the Ground Tensions with Chinese Traders in Papua New Guinea.
In G. Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the
Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(2) Fei Sheng and Graeme Smith. 2021. The Shifting Fate of China’s Pacific Diaspora. In G.
Smith and T. Wesley-Smith (eds.), The China Alternative: Changing Regional Order in the
Pacific Islands. (See “Texts and Resources in Laulima” for a copy).
(3) Henryk Szadziewski. 2020. Reverse Image Engineering: Unfinished and Failed Chinese
Infrastructure Projects in Fiji. Outre-Terre 1, pp. 273-300.

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