Strategic Competition in the Pacific: A Case for Kiribati - Air University
Strategic Competition in the Pacific: A Case for Kiribati - Air University
Model Diplomat1 min readoceania
Kiribati’s foreign policy has shifted from a Western orientation toward closer ties with the PRC, driven by strategic and economic incentives. Key points:
- China’s influence: PRC-backed development (e.g., airport upgrades on Kanton Island) followed Kiribati’s 2010s political shift, with Kiribati recognizing the PRC in 2019 and a 2020 BRI MoU, signaling deeper economic and political engagement.
- Strategic position: Kiribati’s vast exclusive economic zone (about 3.5 million
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