Amid China concerns, Biden vows to address Pacific island needs

U.S. President Joe Biden, his administration pledging to help stave off China’s “economic coercion,” promised Pacific island leaders on Thursday to work harder with allies and partners to address their needs. After a two-day Washington summit, the United States and leaders and representatives from 14 Pacific island states issued a joint declaration resolving to strengthen their partnership and saying that they shared a vision for a region where “democracy will be able to flourish.” Those endorsing the document included the prime minister of the Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare, whose government had earlier indicated it would not sign the declaration, heightening…