New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticizes Western neglect of Pacific Islands, enabling China's influence growth through funding, markets, and security.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticizes Western neglect of Pacific Islands, enabling countries like China to boost their influence through funding, markets, and security. This power vacuum has led to the rise of "checkbook diplomacy" and debt struggles for island nations, prompting Australia and New Zealand to push for Pacific-style consensus diplomacy to counter China's influence.