U.S., Pacific islands agree to bolster ties as China's influence grows

The United States and Pacific island nations agreed to strengthen their partnership at a summit meeting that ended Thursday, with Washington committing to $810 million in support for the region as it seeks to push back against China's growing clout.The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden also unveiled its first-ever national strategy dedicated to the Pacific islands that warned China's "pressure and economic coercion" has the potential to undermine peace and security in the region."Today, security in the Pacific and for the Pacific islanders remains as critical as ever to us...and th…READ FULL ARTICLE