‘The coconut tree does not sway by itself’: Assessing China’s foreign interference in Sāmoa and its impact
China-linked finance and elite ties are reshaping Sāmoa’s politics—and the Pacific balance.
Sinopsis is a project implemented by the non-profit association AcaMedia z.ú., in scholarly collaboration with the Department of Sinology at Charles University in Prague. It aims to present a regular overview of developments in China and its impacts on the outside world from the perspectives of Czech, Chinese, and international observers.
China-linked finance and elite ties are reshaping Sāmoa’s politics—and the Pacific balance.
The Pacific Islands cannot influence the Trump administration’s regional engagement, impacted by cost-cutting and a more fractious international engagement.
China weaponizes Pacific infrastructure to expand regional military influence.
© 2026 AcaMedia z.ú. | Contact: sinopsis@acamedia.cz