In a clear display of expanding influence, China has stirred up debate across the Pacific by docking two warships at Port Vila, Vanuatu, a region traditionally under the strong influence of Australia and the United States. The images of China’s state-of-the-art People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 055 Guided Missile Destroyer Xianyang (108) and the Type 052DL Destroyer Nanning (162) docking at Port Vila have ignited discussion among military experts and geopolitical analysts about Beijing’s growing strategic ambitions in the South Pacific.
The arrival of the Xianyang on October 21, shortly following the Nanning’s arrival a day earlier, has significant geopolitical implications. The deployment is the first known instance of a PLAN Type 055 destroyer, one of the world’s most advanced surface combat ships, in the South Pacific region. While PLAN Type 052D destroyers, Type 054 frigates, and amphibious vessels have frequented the Pacific Islands in recent years, the presence of the Type 055, which boasts advanced weaponry, an integrated radio frequency system, and considerable fuel capacity, represents a substantial uptick in China’s power projection capabilities.
The Chinese Embassy in Port Vila clarified that the visit to Vanuatu had been approved by the local government and was merely a “technical stop” for refueling and resupply. The embassy did not disclose the vessels’ next destination, leaving speculation open on the ultimate objective of the mission. Experts point out that a Type 055 destroyer is capable of extended deployments and intense combat scenarios, indicating the potential for a sustained presence in the Pacific.
China’s choice of Vanuatu as a stop for its navy aligns with broader strategic objectives. Situated roughly 2,247 miles (3,617 kilometers) from the Australian mainland, Vanuatu holds critical importance in any Pacific power dynamics due to its proximity to key maritime and aerial routes. A Chinese military base in Vanuatu would bring the PLAN’s reach alarmingly close to Australia, positioning China in a way that could challenge both U.S. and Australian logistical and defense operations in the region. Vanuatu’s strategic position was underscored in World War II when Espiritu Santo, one of its main islands, housed a significant U.S. military base, reflecting the strategic role Vanuatu has long held in Pacific geopolitics.
Australia, a close ally of the United States with whom it shares defense responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific region, has expressed significant concern over potential Chinese military installations in the Pacific. The Lowy Institute, a think tank in Australia, has highlighted that Australia’s remote location has long been a defensive asset, and any base within 2,000 kilometers of its east coast would represent a considerable threat to its security framework.
China’s growing presence in the Pacific is hardly limited to military deployments. Beijing has actively courted the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) through aid, infrastructure investments, and diplomatic engagements. Since President Xi Jinping took office in 2013, China has substantially increased its aid and financial loans to countries across the Pacific, including Tonga, Kiribati, and Vanuatu. While China’s foreign aid to the Pacific represents around 9% of the total aid funding in the region, its investments have increased from a nominal amount a decade ago to over $1.3 billion.
China’s interest in the Pacific intensified further in 2022, when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a tour of the region aimed at bolstering China’s diplomatic ties. During the tour, China attempted to push a regional cooperation agreement with 10 PICs, covering areas such as policing, security, and data communications. Although the agreement was not finalized, China has continued to expand its influence through bilateral arrangements.
Beyond diplomatic efforts, China has also launched several infrastructure projects in the Pacific, funded in part through loans that many PICs struggle to repay. Vanuatu has directly benefited from Chinese-financed projects, including the Presidential Palace, a symbol of Vanuatu’s alignment with Beijing. However, this debt-driven relationship has raised concerns among analysts that China could eventually use financial leverage to establish military outposts if these nations default on their obligations.
The recent developments have intensified security concerns in both Australia and the United States. Professor Anne-Marie Brady, an expert on China and the Pacific, described China’s docking at Port Vila as a “show of force.” Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) analyst Dr. Malcolm Davis echoed similar concerns, speculating whether Vanuatu or neighboring Solomon Islands might soon host Chinese naval facilities.
Vanuatu’s government, however, maintains a neutral stance. It has historically welcomed foreign vessels, including those from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, for resupply stops without viewing them as implicit endorsements of foreign military influence. Naval expert Alex Luck notes that while Vanuatu’s ports are accustomed to hosting international vessels, the political environment could change if frequent PLAN visits lead to the perception of a de facto Chinese base in the region.
The United States, Australia, and Japan have responded to China’s growing influence by increasing their presence and investment in the Pacific. In recent years, Australia has established partnerships with several PICs and ramped up military cooperation, particularly with Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. This move is consistent with Australia’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which seeks to counter China’s influence by reaffirming alliances in the region.
In response to China’s forays into the Pacific, the United States has reinvigorated its alliances with PICs, with several diplomatic visits to the region. Most notably, in September 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden hosted a summit with Pacific Island leaders in Washington, pledging greater economic and military support to the region, particularly through initiatives that focus on climate resilience and sustainable development.
The Solomon Islands, another PIC with strong Chinese ties, signed a controversial security pact with Beijing in 2022, stoking fears of a future PLAN base on its shores. Although the Solomon Islands government insists it will not permit a Chinese military base, the agreement allows Chinese police and security forces to train local officers, increasing China’s influence over the Solomon Islands’ internal security matters.
The Solomon Islands’ move serves as a potential blueprint for other PICs that may enter similar agreements with China in exchange for economic support. Reports indicate that China has been particularly focused on creating security agreements with PICs as it seeks to gain strategic depth in the region, which could serve as a counterbalance to the Quad (United States, Japan, Australia, and India) in the broader Indo-Pacific context.
The PICs face significant challenges in balancing foreign influence while preserving their autonomy. Most PICs, including Vanuatu, depend on foreign aid and investment due to limited natural resources and high vulnerability to natural disasters, which have hampered their economic development. For China, this dependency represents an opportunity to deepen its influence.
For example, Chinese infrastructure projects, often financed through concessional loans, present PICs with immediate developmental benefits. However, with limited resources to repay these loans, PICs like Tonga and Samoa have found themselves allocating substantial portions of their GDP to debt repayment, prompting concerns that they could be pressured to grant China strategic access to key facilities in case of defaults.
While some leaders in the PICs, including those of Vanuatu and Kiribati, welcome China’s engagement, others are wary of Beijing’s long-term intentions. PICs are thus at a crossroads, navigating between the allure of Chinese investment and the preservation of sovereignty amidst intensifying geopolitical competition between China and the United States.
