Washington: China very likely coordinated a targeted campaign across the Pacific to demonstrate that local development strategies should align with Beijing's latest five-year plan, a recent report by The Alliance Futures Initiative says. The report, titled "China's Model on the Offensive: Why China's Five-Year Plan Promotion in the Pacific Matters," highlights the proactive measures taken by Chinese embassies in eight of the nine Pacific island countries to promote China's national policy framework.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the Washington-based think tank documented that heads of mission in these countries published op-eds in local media to showcase the merits of China's sweeping national policy framework, proposed late last year and adopted in March. The report notes that China reframes the Five-Year Plan (FYP) from a domestic document into a global blueprint for growth and cooperation, aimed at aligning local strategies with China's vision.
The campaign extended beyond media placements, with Chinese diplomats engaging in direct bilateral outreach, hosting diplomatic briefings, and persuading key government figures about the benefits of aligning with China's plan. The Alliance Futures Initiative tracked over 30 instances since October 2025 where ambassadors promoted the five-year plan, suggesting guidance from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A significant aspect of the campaign, as highlighted by Jonah Bock, TAFI's assistant director for research, involves persuasion over coercion. Bock explained that China aims to peacefully influence Pacific countries to adopt its model, emphasizing the cost-effectiveness and lack of resistance associated with persuasion. This strategy is evident in interactions with officials in Vanuatu and Nauru, where Chinese ambassadors discussed governance and judicial cooperation.
The report also identifies key topics-green development, economic openness, and shared prosperity-used by Chinese ambassadors to advocate for alignment with the five-year plan. In countries like Fiji, Micronesia, and Tonga, messaging emphasized environmental contributions, anti-protectionism, and poverty alleviation, aligning with Beijing's strategic objectives.
Bock warned that China's success in the Pacific could lead to a shift in regional alliances, potentially hostile to U.S. interests and those of its allies, especially Taiwan. To counter China's influence, the report recommends that the U.S. focus on strengthening relationships with key Pacific nations and engaging in judicial exchanges, legal-sector training, and civil service partnerships.
Further suggestions include utilizing private capital for aid and highlighting China's actions in the Pacific to discredit Beijing's claims of non-interference in other countries' affairs. Bock emphasized the importance of these strategies, citing recent exchanges between the Solomon Islands and the U.S. Congress as examples of effective engagement.
The report concludes that documenting China's activities and allowing Pacific audiences to draw their conclusions can effectively counter China's narrative and influence in the region.