The Pacific Center for Island Sustainability hosted a two-day webinar focused on security and insecurity in Micronesia. Day One covered the future of alliances, great-power competition, Micronesia's role, and the escalating arms race in the Indo-Pacific. 

Day Two discussions addressed micronesian governments' responses to great-power competition, and China and Japan's views on geopolitical competition and Micronesia's role.

PCIS chairman Dr. Robert Underwood questioned Dr. Denghua Zhang, an analyst on Chinese foreign policy, whether China will see an opportunity to increase foreign aid in the Pacific as the US pulls back international aid.

"My opinion is that China has been looking for an opportunity to increase their influence in the Pacific region, including in the Micrionesian countries. So we can kind of tell to what extent China will increase their foreign aid by general trade. My main argument is that China will continue to maintain or, if possible, increase their foreign aid," said Zhang.

Dr. Zhang says more will be revealed in the coming days as China is currently wrapping-up a meeting of Pacific Islands foreign ministers in Fujian Province.