Now, as Canberra and Beijing deliver aid to the region, the possibility of a travel bubble between the Pacific Islands and Australia has given a new dimension to the competition.

Reach reach

For the Pacific Islands, which have a combined GDP of around $ 33.77 billion – less than 1% of total Chinese GDP – China has been an important partner during the pandemic.

The islands so far have largely ward off the corona virus thanks to its remoteness and initial locking action. But local people could face devastating consequences if the virus would be affected, due to inadequate health care and lack of testing capacity, experts have warned.

“China’s involvement in the Pacific today has been driven by opportunism, they are trying to get as much influence as possible,” said Jonathan Pryke, director of the Pacific island program at the Lowy Institute.

But stronger ties can be useful when needed.

In May, when China faced a global reaction to its initial response to the coronavirus outbreak, it turned to the Pacific for support. A few days before the World Health Assembly meeting in May, ministers from 10 Pacific Island countries joined the video conference on Covid-19 organized by China.

The meeting ended with an affirmation of China’s coronavirus response.

“This is what the Chinese government needs,” said Denghua Zhang, from the Australian National University in Canberra.

The Trump administration has repeatedly blamed China for the pandemic, while Canberra angered Beijing with its call for an independent inquiry into the origin of the virus.

Australia entered

“The Australian Government has clearly recognized that there is no room for the creation of a vacuum, (whether it is) hard power, soft power, the front of aid, or the medical front,” Pryke said.

“They cannot back down from nothing for fear that China might fill it.”

Travel bubbles

One way the pandemic can affect geopolitical competition in the Pacific is to relax travel restrictions selectively between countries.

When Australia and New Zealand control the corona virus, their politicians talk about opening borders between one another, creating travel corridors – or “travel bubbles” – between the two countries.

Both countries have successfully leveled their coronavirus curves in late April, even though Australia is now facing a surge in cases in the state of Victoria.

So far, there have been no publicly reported plans between the Pacific Islands and China for a similar travel bubble. At the moment, China seems to focus on its neighboring borders – the southern province of Guangdong is in discussions with Hong Kong and Macau for travel bubbles.

Some Australian politicians also want to see the trans-Pacific bubble.

Dave Sharma, a lawmaker for the ruling Liberal party, wrote in an Australian newspaper last month that the inclusion would help the Pacific Pacific neighbors economically, and ensure that “they continue to see Australia as their first choice partner.”

“Strategic competition in the Pacific is still alive and well, with China and other countries trying to play a greater role. It is important that our influence and footprint in the immediate environment be seen,” he wrote.

While geopolitics is not the main motivator for travel bubbles – more precisely, the main driver is the drive to get the economy back on track, Pryke said – lifting travel restrictions between Australia and the Pacific Islands will secure some geopolitical benefits for Canberra and Wellington.

“On the one hand, Australia and New Zealand will be the gatekeepers for access to the Pacific while the pandemic continues throughout the world. So of course it will give Australia and New Zealand a further geopolitical advantage,” he said.