Leaders from nine Pacific Island nations have vowed to deepen their relationship with Beijing, fight the pandemic, and continue collaborating on major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The pledge comes amid an ongoing tug-of-war between Beijing and democratic allies in the South Pacific region. In late May, top Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials held a virtual summit called the Pacific Island Countries—China Political Leadership Dialogue attended by the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Niuē, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Cook Islands. Song Tao, head of the International Liaison Department of the CCP, chaired the meeting and read a letter from Chinese leader Xi Jinping before conveying the Chinese regime’s gratitude to the Island nations’ for their “valuable support” of Beijing’s interests. The International Liaison Department is controlled by the Central Committee—one of the most powerful political organs in …