The island country of Fiji is joining the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), according to a Thursday White House statement.
Situated in the Pacific, a region that’s increasingly contentious in step with expanding Chinese influence, Fiji’s joining IPEF gives the Biden administration a diplomatic victory over Beijing.
“IPEF now reflects the full regional diversity of the Indo-Pacific, with members from Northeast and Southeast Asia, South Asia, Oceania, and the Pacific Islands,” said Jake Sullivan, US national security adviser, in welcoming the country into the IPEF.
“A close partner to the United States and a leader in the region, Fiji will add vital value and perspective to IPEF, including on our efforts to tackle the climate crisis and build a clean economy that creates good paying jobs.”…