THE COMPETITION FOR INFLUENCE IN OCEANIA
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Authors
vanHorn, Eric E.
Subjects
China
Oceania
influence
soft power
Solomon Islands
South Pacific
engagement
coercive diplomacy
diplomacy
investment
international relations
foreign policy
PRC
CCP
RAMSI
sharp power
RSIPF
ethnic conflict
Taiwan
Australia
Oceania
influence
soft power
Solomon Islands
South Pacific
engagement
coercive diplomacy
diplomacy
investment
international relations
foreign policy
PRC
CCP
RAMSI
sharp power
RSIPF
ethnic conflict
Taiwan
Australia
Advisors
Meyskens, Covell F.
Date of Issue
2023-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
In the last two decades, China has undertaken a concerted effort to achieve soft power dominance in geostrategic and periphery countries across Oceania. China is now on pace to bypass the West in the competition for strategic influence among the nations of Oceania. While the United States and its allies tend to work aboveboard in building relationships and strengthening alliances, China’s less-reputable tactics, though highly criticized, are steadily drawing in new partners. There is international concern that as China’s regional influence grows it will someday convert its influence into diplomatic and economic—and potentially military—dominance that will serve to challenge and, perhaps, supplant the current international order. Through the lens of a single case study of the Solomon Islands, this research sought to demonstrate which factors are the most important in determining the outcome of the competition for influence in Oceania. This research examined the factors that contributed to the Solomon Islands' recent diplomatic and policy shifts in favor of China. This research suggests that China’s use of coercive diplomacy and economic-based leverage were the most consequential factors and that the most effective way for the United States to compete with China’s growing influence in the Solomon Islands, and Oceania more broadly, will be to do so with and through its like-minded regional partners and allies in a manner that is as multilateral, stable, and reliable as possible.
Type
Thesis
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Department
National Security Affairs (NSA)
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Distribution Statement
Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.