Bill Proposed to Establish Permanent US Special Envoy to Counter CCP in Pacific

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced a bill on Thursday that proposes establishing a permanent U.S. special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to counter the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) growing influence in the region.

The PIF comprises 18 Pacific Island nations, including Australia and New Zealand. The CCP has appointed Qian Bo, China's ambassador to Fiji, as its special envoy to the PIF, viewing the group of Pacific Island countries as strategically important to its ambitions to dominate the region.

Kennedy said that “Beijing is putting more economic and diplomatic pressure on the Pacific Island states each day, and one of the clearest and easiest steps that Congress can take to counter this communist antagonism is to establish a special envoy to the Pacific Islands Forum.”

Counter the CCP

A permanent, Senate-confirmed special envoy will help remedy the Biden administration's concern that the United States has dropped the ball in the Pacific.

Some analysts believe this has allowed the CCP to cultivate its influence and play an increasingly aggressive role in the region, including investing heavily in foreign aid and other projects through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative. By appointing a special envoy, the United States can build stronger relationships with the Pacific Island countries and counter Beijing's growing influence.

The envoy's role would include strengthening growth and cooperation with these important Pacific Island countries, deepening trust, and increasing dialogue on the Pacific Islands’ economic, cyber security, and military concerns.

The legislation received some bipartisan support, with 11 senators cosponsoring it, including Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

PIF Grouping

The PIF is the Pacific region's main political and economic policy grouping, founded in 1971, and includes countries such as the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Papua New Guinea. The United States previously announced the appointment of its first-ever envoy to the PIF in July 2022, when Vice President Kamala Harris gave a rare non-member address to the forum.

During the address, Harris outlined a number of steps the United States would take to strengthen diplomatic relations, including dispatching the Peace Corps to the region and setting up embassies in Kiribati and Tonga.

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