Illustration: Chen Xia/Global Times

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has warned that there is a concern among Pacific leaders about being caught in the crosshairs of accelerating tensions between the US and China, but his country will not be caught in a "standoff," as geopolitical tensions in the Pacific increase, the Guardian reported on Monday.

US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever US-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington in September, in what has been widely seen as a response to China's "increasing presence" in the region. However, it seems Washington's rebalancing strategy did not achieve its expected effect; on the contrary, the US-initiated geopolitical tensions have caused anxiety among Pacific island countries.

Pacific leaders' concerns are understandable. Indulging in geopolitical games, Washington is increasingly becoming the origin of chaos - this should be watched, and avoid letting Pacific island countries be turned into indirect victims of Washington's geopolitical game against Beijing.

The economies of Pacific island countries depend heavily on tourism, which has been seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It may take a long time for those economies to recover from the economic toll of the pandemic, and the next 2-to-3 years will be a critical period for economic recovery and reconstruction. Bilateral cooperation between China and Pacific island countries is not only conducive to regional stability and development, but also injects positive energy into economic resurgence.

China has signed MOUs on Belt and Road Initiative with 10 Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China. The country has helped Pacific island countries build important infrastructure including roads, bridges, wharfs, hospitals, schools and stadiums, in addition to training about 10,000 professionals in various fields.

Marape was quoted by the Guardian as saying that China had never broached discussions with him about expanding the relationship between the countries to include a security element. Marape's words have added to evidence once again that China has always adhered to mutual respect, win-win cooperation, openness and inclusiveness in developing relations with Pacific island countries.

The US-led West should not be wary of such mutually-beneficial cooperation. At the very least, they should not interfere in others' economic affairs and politicize economic issues. Some US politicians insistently views normal economic cooperation between China and Pacific island countries as Washinton's strategic loss, which is completely wrong.

The US claimed it would strengthen its presence in the South Pacific this year. After Washington realized the strategic importance of South Pacific, it began to position the region as a battlefield for its geopolitical game against China, trying to strengthen its influence there. However, its geopolitical game has delivered no real economic benefit for Pacific island countries.

Marape said the US seemed "very far away" and was not a significant trading partner for Papua New Guinea, so until the country had been able to diversify its export destinations, it could not afford to sacrifice any of its current trading relationships, the Guardian reported.

Some US politicians want to promote their anti-China agenda in the South Pacific, but that will be futile in the end. The future of Pacific island countries should be grasped in their own hands. In considering South Pacific's own interests, we believe more Pacific leaders will maintain strategic sobriety and give top priority to improving their economy, instead of focusing on geopolitical games and playing up China threat theory.

China will not withdraw from cooperation with Pacific island countries because of Washington's geopolitical game. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in May that China will continue to provide assistance to Pacific island countries with no political strings attached to enhance the capability of Pacific island countries for self-driven development.

Wang said that China will maintain close communication with all parties, and jointly build an even closer China-Pacific island countries community with a shared future. Wang's words can be seen as the best response to the US-initiated geopolitical tensions in the region.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn