The following is the Aug. 17, 2022, Congressional Research Service report, The Pacific Islands.
From the report
The Pacific Islands region in the Southwest Pacific has emerged as an area of keen interest to major powers, largely due to the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) expanding engagement in the region. The region has strategic significance for the United States and hosts key U.S. military installations. Congressional considerations include bolstering diplomacy in the region, funding...
https://news.usni.org/2022/08/18/report-to-congress-on-the-pacific-islands