Larus Offers Guest Lecture to Pacific Forum Fellows

Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, commented September 25 on Al Qahera Cairo News on President Biden’s Pacific Islands Leaders Summit. Professor Larus indicated that the meeting is part of an attempt to counter China’s growing influence in the Western Pacific as well as address the harmful effects of climate change on the island economies. Part of this effort is to pledge $40 million for infrastructure development and an additional $200 million over the next decade to address climate change. To increase US presence in the Pacific Islands, Biden announced formal recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue, both freely associated states near New Zealand, and opening or reopening of embassies in Tonga and Solomon Islands. View the interview (in Arabic).

Larus Comments on Egypt News on China Sanctions
Elizabeth Freund Larus, Ph.D., Professor Emerita of Political Science and International Affairs and Adjunct Fellow at Pacific Forum, September 15 offered comments to Egypt’s Al Qaher News on China sanctions against Lockheed Martin and Northrup Grumman. China claims that the firms’ participation in US arms sales to Taiwan violates China’s 2021 Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, which restricts individuals or entities making discriminatory measures against Chinese citizens or entities from doing business in or with China. Professor Larus indicated that US law prohibits arms sales to China, but the two firms still do business with China’s civilian aerospace industry. She also clarified the difference between the US ‘one China policy’ and Beijing’s ‘one China principle.’ She explained that US arms sales to Taiwan do not violate the US one China policy and is consistent with the US 1979 US Taiwan Relations Act (law). Watch the segment.