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Chinese envoy lashes 'ignorant' Pacific aid critics

China's President Xi Jinping during state visit to PNG
Source: Yahoo News

Apia, SAMOA — China's ambassador to Samoa labelled critics of Beijing's activities in the Pacific "ignorant" and "prejudiced" Tuesday in the latest testy public missive from the rising Asian superpower's diplomatic corps.

Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific islands was a major theme at a tense regional summit in Tuvalu last week, where Australia tried to reassert leadership in an area it traditionally regards as its sphere of influence.

Instead, Canberra faced criticism over its lack of action on climate change, with leaders such as Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama saying they preferred China's brand of diplomacy to "condescending" Australia.

Ambassador Chao Xiaoliang tried to seize the moment, dismissing Western charges that China's foreign aid programme creates client states as inaccurate "Cold War" thinking.

"Rather than pointing fingers at China's good deeds, those who keep on making groundless accusations and speculations might as well do more themselves to provide help to the Pacific island countries," Chao wrote in the Samoa Observer.

"Some people questioned the purpose of China's aid, even disregarded the facts and fabricated the so-called 'China debt trap' -- this is either of prejudice or ignorant of China's foreign aid policy."

China's aid comes largely in the form of low-interest loans, but critics say it leaves debtor nations beholden to Beijing, eroding their independence.

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper earlier this month accused China of destabilising the region using such tactics, citing "predatory economics and debt-for-sovereignty deals".

Chao's response in the Observer was blunt: "The so-called 'China debt trap' is extremely ridiculous."

"China's foreign aid... comes without interfering in their domestic affairs or attaching any political strings," he wrote.

Australia, the largest aid donor in the Pacific, is wary of China's interest in the region, fearing the long term goal is to establish a military base in the islands.

It launched a charm offensive dubbed the "Pacific Step-up" last year to counter Beijing's influence.

Read more at Yahoo News