The US State Department announced today that the US intends to open an embassy in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

China has been seeking to expand its influence in the South Pacific, and the opening of the embassy in Vanuatu would be the latest move by the United States to strengthen its presence in the region.

The picture shows the situation after the previous typhoon in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.

(Reuters)

[Central News Agency] The US State Department announced today that the US intends to open an embassy in the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

China has been seeking to expand its influence in the South Pacific, and the opening of the embassy in Vanuatu would be the latest move by the United States to strengthen its presence in the region.

Vanuatu consists of about 80 islands and has a population of 319,000.

According to the US State Department, the United States has formal diplomatic relations with Vanuatu, but has not opened an embassy there.

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The State Department statement said the opening of the embassy in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, "will enable the US government to deepen its relationship" and boost development assistance on issues such as climate.

The State Department did not provide a timetable for opening the embassy.

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, with the support of Congressional Democrats and Republicans, has been expanding the U.S. role in the South Pacific.

The region had received little attention until China shocked the world last year with a security deal with the Solomon Islands.

Agence France-Presse reported that despite Solomon Islands' denials, U.S. and Australian officials expressed concern that the China-Solomons security deal could open vast waters to China's People's Liberation Army.

The United States opened an embassy in the Solomon Islands in February; Vice President Kamala Harris announced at a summit last year that the United States would also open embassies in Kiribati and the Kingdom of Tonga.