'Tread carefully’: Pacific warned over US-China tensions

Political commentators say the future of Pacific relations with the United States could boost expansion or end in catastrophe, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

Trump toppled Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with 292 electoral votes against Harris' 224 on Wednesday (NZ time).

After his inauguration in January, Trump’s responsibilities will include the Pacific region, including whether to continue investment funding promises made under Joe Biden’s presidency.

Speaking to William Terite on Pacific Mornings, political commentator Thomas Wayne said it was highly likely Trump would continue expanding diplomatic ties with the Pacific.

"I don't think he's going to pull any of that back," Wayne said.

"It's in his best interests to have a foothold in the Pacific so I can't see that changing too much.

"I think we're going to see the changes internally for them across the US.”

Watch Thomas Wayne's full interview via 531pi's FB below:

International ramifications

Democratic Party Strategist Mary Anne Marsh believed US-Pacific engagement would veer off from its intended course.

"Trump only does things for his self-interest."

She said the continued investments in the Pacific, which Harris committed to if elected, depended on the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping.

In his message to Trump following the American's election win, Xi said on Thursday that Beijing and Washington must find a way to "get along".

Chinese state media reported that Trump's crushing presidential victory ushered in a new era of uncertainty in the US and the world, heralding a possible shift in US-China relations, frayed in recent years by tensions over everything from trade to the status of self-ruled Taiwan.

Xi said, "History has shown that China and the United States benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation", Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported.

"The big day yesterday, besides for Donald Trump, was for Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping - everybody got what they wanted," Marsh said.

"Trump was going to let [Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu] do whatever he wants in Israel, give them anything he wants and then throw in Iran too.

"Putin wants Ukraine and [Trump's] going to end [President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy] and turn Ukraine over to Putin so Putin then can go right across Europe as he wants."

Within the next five years, Wayne expects a US military base to be set up in the Pacific, marking their allegiance in the geopolitical turmoil between America and China.

Watch Mary Anne Marsh's full interview via 531pi's FB below:

Wayne warned the Pacific must be careful in navigating a binary "them and us" situation, and to look at the historical treatment of the Pacific by both superpower states.

"One, it's not a Pacific way of doing things - there's always room at the table for someone.

"Countries across the Pacific have had relationships with China for well over 20 years.

"They never bombed us, they never let off nuclear bombs in the Pacific - if we go through who has been our friend and who hasn't, I think history would tell a very different tale."

Marsh added the Pacific must consider China's interest in Taiwan, given their proximity in the Pacific Ocean, along with other geopolitical factors.

“Your region is right on the map there.

"[Trump] will leave NATO. He will take weapons from people and he will give weapons to people who shouldn't have them.

"Besides the economic chaos that could ensue the national security threats are only going to increase.

"We saw that in his first term, he's more dangerous in the second term."