APCSS College
‘Check-book diplomacy’ in the Pacific: A troubling return?
“Not long after the ‘truce’ between China and Taiwan, suspending their competitive bidding for diplomatic recognition among Pacific island states, the game has seemingly returned. This time a different cast is at play, revolving around the little-known republic of Abkhazia and alleged Russian financial inducements to win recognition for Abkhazia’s secession from Georgia.” This is an excerpt from a new article by Dr. Al Oehlers printed in a recent edition of the East Asia Forum. In the article, Oehlers discusses the impact of “check-book diplomacy” in the Pacific and asks questions of how this going down this path could ultimately hurt [...]