US-led ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ initiative
Recently ‘Partners in the Blue Pacific’ (PBP) initiative has been launched under the leadership of United States to counter China.
The US, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan have announced initiatives. The initiative can be seen as a reaction against China’s aggressive access to the island countries of the Pacific Ocean.
Earlier, China had issued a draft agreement named ‘Common Development Vision’. In this, China has expressed its intention that it wants to expand cooperation in law enforcement with Pacific countries.
Partners in the Blue Pacific (PBP)
- It is an informal system of five countries. It focuses on supporting Pacific island nations and promoting diplomatic and economic ties in the region.
- It aims to enhance “prosperity, resilience and security” in the Pacific region through closer cooperation.
- It will take forward Pacific regionalism, and establish a stronger relationship with the Pacific Islands Forum.
- Its areas of cooperation include climate crisis, connectivity and transport, maritime security, etc.
Strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific:
- It covers 44% of the world’s land area. 65 percent of the world’s population lives here.
- These countries account for 62% of global GDP and 46% of the world’s commodity trade.
- The region is home to the world’s most populous country (China), and the most populous democracy (India).
- The US has long maintained a balance of power in the region with its hub-and-spoke system. Under this arrangement, where the US is the hub, it has allied spokespersons. Their security is guaranteed by US military power.
Source – The Hindu
