US port pledge ups China rivalry in Pacific but island nations stick to own course

The United States is stepping up its presence in the South Pacific with new funding and a reinforced diplomatic footprint, as its competition with China intensifies across the region. Yet the effectiveness of the push is tempered by Washington’s deep cuts to its main overseas aid agency, leaving doubts about the consistency of US commitment among Pacific leaders, according to analysts. The Pacific island nations are unlikely to frame their foreign relations as a simple choice between the two....