Published • loading... • Updated
Australia Helps Pacific Islands Dodge Worst of Aid Cuts
Australia now provides 37% of Pacific development spending as China’s lending continues to decline, the Lowy Institute said.
- Australia has supplanted China as the Pacific's dominant lender, committing $3.4 billion in new loans since 2021 and accounting for 37 per cent of all regional development finance, according to the Lowy Institute's latest Pacific Aid Map.
- China's lending to the Pacific has continued to decline, with just $558 million in new loan deals committed since 2020. Lead author Riley Duke described the shift as "striking," noting Beijing's aid remains highly reactive to diplomatic developments.
- About 40 per cent of Pacific infrastructure projects involve Chinese state-owned enterprises. Duke said these companies "dominated" contests for major World Bank and ADB projects, despite Australian government attempts to shift their operating model.
- On Tuesday, Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian departed Canberra following a four-year posting. United States aid remains steady despite President Donald Trump's spending cuts, with the administration renewing compacts worth more than $7 billion over two decades.
- The latest Lowy Poll found 39 per cent of Australians believe China is the region's most influential country, exceeding the 33 per cent who identify Australia despite the country's status as the largest aid donor.
Insights by Ground AI
17 Articles
17 Articles
(Hanoi=Yonhap News) Correspondent Park Jin-hyung = It has been revealed that China has increased development aid to Pacific island nations by more than 40% to expand its influence in the Pacific...
·Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)
Read Full Article
Australia Remains Pacific’s Biggest Donor With $1.5 Billion Despite Global Aid Cuts
International funding and financing for the Pacific Islands has not been too heavily impacted amid U.S. Aid cuts, according to a new report. As competition among the major powers for influence in the key region remains intense, the Lowy Institute’s ninth annual Pacific Aid Map report shows Australia was by far the leading provider of grants and loans to the region in 2024. Australia disbursed US$1.5 billion of aid in the Pacific, more than three…
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Australia Leads Pacific Island Development as Chinese Aid Slows
·New York, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left6Leaning Right4Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution46% Left
Bias Distribution
- 46% of the sources lean Left
46% Left
L 46%
C 23%
R 31%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
