China’s Influence on Display as Leaders Converge on Island Nation
- Beijing’s largess helps Papua New Guinea host APEC summit
- Xi makes first vist by Chinese president to developing country
This article is for subscribers only.
Chinese President Xi Jinping didn’t arrive in Papua New Guinea until late Thursday, but his presence has been felt there for some time.
China has been pouring money into the Pacific Island nation, injecting at least $5.9 billion of infrastructure spending since 2011 into an economy smaller than any U.S. state. The investment has highlighted the region’s growing status as a strategic battleground between China and U.S. allies ahead of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits, which are bringing Xi, Vice President Mike Pence and other world leaders there this week.