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| Caught Between China and the West, a Pacific Island Nation Ousts Its Leader | Caught Between China and the West, a Pacific Island Nation Ousts Its Leader |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| With 1,200 miles of almost empty ocean to its west and more than 7,000 miles of the same to its east, the tiny Pacific archipelago nation of Vanuatu has long sought a position of neutrality toward its faraway would-be foreign partners. | With 1,200 miles of almost empty ocean to its west and more than 7,000 miles of the same to its east, the tiny Pacific archipelago nation of Vanuatu has long sought a position of neutrality toward its faraway would-be foreign partners. |
| Now, as the United States and China jockey for more influence in the South Pacific, that balancing act has become fraught. Take the case of Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who in recent months signed a security pact with Australia, met with President Emmanuel Macron of France, welcomed American plans to set up an embassy in Vanuatu, and hosted Chinese police experts in Port Vila, the capital. | Now, as the United States and China jockey for more influence in the South Pacific, that balancing act has become fraught. Take the case of Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau, who in recent months signed a security pact with Australia, met with President Emmanuel Macron of France, welcomed American plans to set up an embassy in Vanuatu, and hosted Chinese police experts in Port Vila, the capital. |
| But for Mr. Kalsakau’s political opponents, he had veered too close to the West. On Monday, 10 months after he become the country’s leader, Mr. Kalsakau was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Mr. Kalsakau’s camp says his detractors and the new prime minister, Sato Kilman, are hardly neutral, and have accused China of interfering in Vanuatu’s politics. | But for Mr. Kalsakau’s political opponents, he had veered too close to the West. On Monday, 10 months after he become the country’s leader, Mr. Kalsakau was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Mr. Kalsakau’s camp says his detractors and the new prime minister, Sato Kilman, are hardly neutral, and have accused China of interfering in Vanuatu’s politics. |
| Both sides have rejected the allegations thrown at them — but what is clear is that the country of around 320,000 people is again engulfed in political turmoil. Vanuatu has had four different leaders in five years. | Both sides have rejected the allegations thrown at them — but what is clear is that the country of around 320,000 people is again engulfed in political turmoil. Vanuatu has had four different leaders in five years. |
| As more powerful players exert their influence in the Pacific, Vanuatu and its island neighbors, including Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands, have been courted by China and the West with offers of aid and financial support. |