US promises new plan for the Pacific to keep it ‘free from coercion’
Washington is ‘stepping up across the board’ its engagement with Pacific nations, says White House official
The United States plans to propose a new initiative to address issues in the Pacific next week as it scrambles to offset China’s thrust into the region, a top White House official said.
Washington is “stepping up across the board” its engagement with Pacific island nations to address their concerns over everything from relations with Washington to illegal fishing, climate change and regional security, Kurt Campbell, a senior official for Asia in the national security council, said on Thursday.