The United States is planning to establish a co-operation framework next week with New Zealand, Japan, Australia and other countries to strengthen ties with Pacific nations, US National Security Council (NSC) Indo-Pacific Affairs Co-ordinator Kurt Campbell revealed during a virtual conference.
The move apparently is intended to form multilateral co-operation to present a united front in deterring China's attempts to expand its military footholds in the South Pacific.
The framework, intended to support island nations in the South Pacific, is to be led by the United States.
Campbell said the Pacific region is "an area of enormous strategic importance" during the Centre for a New American Security's National Security Conference on Thursday (Friday NZT).
"We will be launching next week an initiative to work with a variety of like-minded countries on an open, very detailed set of engagements, in which we share our views... to make clear our desire to keep a Pacific environment that is open, that's healthy, that's productive and that's free from coercion," he said.
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The like-minded countries Campbell cited include Japan, Australia, Britain, France, New Zealand and the United States.
Campbell cited the issues of suspicious boats, illegal fishing and climate change as areas of co-operation. According to sources, the countries involved are expected to discuss specific measures once the framework is established. Economic assistance such as infrastructure development will be included in the area of co-operation as well.