Editor's note: Imran Khalid is a freelance columnist on international affairs. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The United States is gearing up to open a new embassy in Tonga this very month. This move comes as Washington doubles down on its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific region, with a view to countering the growing "threat" of China.

Daniel Kritenbrink, top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, gave the lowdown on the latest developments. Speaking before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee subcommittee recently, he revealed that Washington is also maintaining communications with Vanuatu and Kiribati regarding a proposal to establish embassies in each of those respective countries. 

The United States is making this move as part of a broader strategy to counter China's growing influence in the region. Though the American media is claiming that this step is based on a genuine need for consular services, the fact is that it is simply a politically motivated action designed to further disrupt China's efforts in the Pacific and to further its own agenda in the region. But the question is: will this move help to achieve those goals, or will it simply create more tension and destabilization in the region?

History is replete with many such occurrences where Washington's efforts to enter peaceful regions and countries with a political agenda, where China is already engaged in developmental work, have caused turmoil and unease. The U.S. is playing a high-stakes game in the Pacific. Of late, the U.S. has been increasingly vocal about its desire to counter China's growing presence in the region. But this faulty approach, which is primarily driven by selfish intentions, could backfire, and ultimately create more tension in the peaceful region.

In an aggressive move last September, U.S. President Joe Biden extended an invitation to Pacific leaders to convene at the White House for a regional summit – a first for any U.S. president. Over the course of two days, the 14 Pacific island nations came together to sign the Declaration on U.S.-Pacific Partnership, pledging to collaborate towards a peaceful region where "democracy can thrive," and making a commitment to prioritize action on climate change. This was followed by the re-opening of the U.S. embassy in the Solomon Islands in February this year. Back in 1993, amid the post-Cold War budget cuts, the United States made the decision to shutter its embassy in Honiara. Washington simply did not view the South Pacific region as being strategically significant, and as a result, cut back on both aid and presence in the area.

This was exactly the same period when China started very active plans for infrastructure development in this region. The United States is currently beset by a palpable sense of strategic and tactical anxiety, owing to China's successful engagement with the South Pacific region. The island nations there have embraced China's mutually beneficial cooperation, prompting Washington to launch a flurry of high-profile diplomatic maneuvers. These include the establishment of new embassies and a blitz of tours throughout the region.

It's a trend that is set to continue, not because the U.S. seeks to sincerely assist the region in any way, but because it needs to contain China within its Indo-Pacific strategy. For a full three decades, the South Pacific region remained largely on the sidelines of U.S. geopolitical concerns. However, everything changed when China emerged as the region's largest trading partner and a key investment player - particularly after the official signing of an inter-governmental framework agreement on security cooperation between China and the Solomon Islands in March 2022. With this development, the United States suddenly found itself in a state of panic, and the South Pacific region was once again thrust into the forefront of its strategic vision. It has raised question marks about the true intentions of Washington's new-found interest in the region.

In a move signaling a renewed focus on the South Pacific region, U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Papua New Guinea (PNG) on May 22, marking the first time in at least a century that a sitting U.S. president will visit the country. The U.S. is making a concerted effort to strengthen its ties with South Pacific nations, with each step of the promotion seemingly echoing the sentiment of the "return of America." However, the U.S.'s renewed interest in forging ties with South Pacific nations seems to be driven more by utilitarian concerns than a genuine desire to help the region. Critics argue that the U.S. is using regional countries as "tools" in its efforts to contain China, rather than working towards shared prosperity and stability in the region.

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