Blinken visits Tonga, discusses strategic importance of Pacific region

News Snapshot:

WELLINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in the island nation of Tonga on Wednesday, the latest senior U.S. official to visit the South Pacific, but said Washington's interest in the region was not due to China's growing presence. Blinken held talks with Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni on the strategic importance of the Pacific region, ahead of visits to the South Pacific's two major powers New Zealand and Australia. Blinken said in a press conference that the United States was committed to both Tonga and the broader Pacific Islands regardless of China. "It is...