21. China's aid in the Pacific - with Merriden Varrall

In recent years, China’s aid in the Pacific has come under increased scrutiny. Some suggest that China’s infrastructure projects and loans lead to unsustainable levels of debt for countries in the region, and that aid programs could lead to pro-China policy positions. The Chinese government has recently announced the formation of the International Development Cooperation Agency to coordinate its foreign aid programs, indicating that China may be prioritising the improvement of its international aid policy in light of the Belt and Road Initiative. What is China’s approach to aid? How does it differ from Australia’s? How do citizens of Pacific Island countries view China’s presence there? Should Australia be concerned? Merriden Varrall, Director of the East Asia Program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy, joins James Laurenceson, Deputy Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at the University of Technology Sydney, to discuss China’s aid program in the Pacific and its evolving approach towards foreign aid.