The US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have launched a fresh initiative to help Pacific Island nations, in an effort to increase their presence in a maritime region that is increasingly targeted by China.Washington and its allies created “Partners in Blue Pacific” on Friday after several days of talks with Pacific Island countries. The scheme aims to help small island nations — such as Fiji, Palau, Samoa and the Marshall Islands — tackle issues from climate change to illegal fishing, but it also marks a stepped-up effort to counter Chinese initiatives.

One US official told the Financial Times it would include a range of measures, including boosting diplomatic presences across the region, and helping countries tackle climate change and illegal fishing. He said the US would also supply more Covid-19 vaccines to countries, and added that the initiative would also include an arrangement to send young leaders from the region to executive education courses in America.

But the official added that there was an “undeniable security component” to the reinvigorated US engagement with the region.