Hong Kong, May 23 -- : Infrastructure deals with foreign countries - including airports and ports - are instrumental for China to exert greater influence on other countries.
This is showing itself in the Pacific at present. China has already sewn up a security cooperation deal with Solomon Islands, and now Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be visiting Fiji, Solomons, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and possibly Kiribati one after the other to sign deals relating to things like airports and runways.
But perhaps ports are the most useful asset for a militant-minded China, as such facilities could have a direct military application. As well as servicing Chinese warships, they could act as a potential conduit for Chinese weapons overseas.
Does...