The South Pacific sub-region of the Indo-Pacific has been witnessing many significant developments in recent years. The region consisting of small Pacific Island Countries (PICs) is a part of the larger Indo-Pacific region. Increasing salience of the Indo-Pacific construct in the regional and global discourse has been a major factor resulting in bringing attention to the South Pacific sub-region. The region which has largely been dormant is experiencing increasing engagement from major global powers. China's profile in the South Pacific has been rapidly rising given the significance of the Pacific Islands in China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and increasing Chinese aid and assistance to small island nations in the region. China's active pursuance of island strategy in the South Pacific may alter the regional balance of power in the long run. This paper attempts to examine these issues in detail. It aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of increasing clout of China in the region and Beijing's conscious effort to increase its diplomatic, economic and strategic footprints in the region, which is unnerving the traditional players and causing a palpable shift in the geopolitics of the region.

English