Scott Morrison says Chinese interference in the Pacific is of ‘great consequence’, while Anthony Albanese says the region needs ‘competition, not catastrophe’.
POLICY FORUM
7 May 2021
Chinese academics have become increasingly interested in the Pacific and in improving China’s policy there as the country has become more invested in the region, Denghua Zhang writes.
As China’s presence in the Pacific region has increased, so too has the interest of its researchers and elite institutions. The Chinese Government and Chinese universities have rolled out a number of new programs to strengthen academic ties with the region, including a focus on raising awareness and knowledge of Pacific languages to serve its Belt and Road Initiative.
With this surging interest in the region, how are Pacific studies in China developing, and are the research interests of Chinese scholars intersecting with their country’s policy priorities?