Michael Kovrig: US-China tug of war squeezes oceanic democracies

Michael Kovrig: By now, many Pacific leaders understand what is at stake in China’s bid to bring the region into its orbit. Despite its tangible benefits, engagement with Beijing is posing new threats to governance, political stability, environmental sustainability, national security, regional consensus—and potentially self-determination. The Pacific norms and institutions that hold elites accountable, ensure rule of law, and sustain independent news reporting all show signs of strain. The sheer disparity in scale with Beijing that the islands face—China’s population is 1.4 billion compared with their combined 14 million—imposes an extreme imbalance of power…