Samoa signed a bilateral agreement with China on Saturday, promising "greater collaboration" as Beijing's foreign minister continues a tour of the South Pacific that has sparked concern among Western allies.
The full details of the deal have yet to be publicly released, with news of the signed agreement coming midway through a Chinese delegation's eight-nation trip - but an earlier leaked draft agreement sent to several Pacific countries outlined plans to expand security and economic engagement.
The mission has prompted Western leaders to urge regional counterparts to spurn any Chinese attempt to extend its security reach across the region.
A press release from the Samoan government confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa had met and discussed "climate change, the pandemic and peace and security".
Documents that were signed included the Exchange of Letters for the Fingerprint laboratory for Police, the Handover Certificate for the completed Arts & Culture Centre, and the Economic & Technical Cooperation Agreement for projects to be determined and mutually agreed between the two countries.
Local media were invited to witness the signing of a deal, but no questions were taken.
The release said that China would continue to provide infrastructural development support to various Samoan sectors and there would be a new framework for future projects "to be determined and mutually agreed".
"Samoa and the People's Republic of China will continue to pursue greater collaboration that will deliver on joint interests and commitments," the release said.
Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele said the agreement includes discussions about China establishing a police training centre.
Members of Samoa's government meet with members of China's delegation. Source: Facebook / Government of Samoa
The Chinese delegation has already visited the Solomon Islands and Kiribati this week.
It arrived in Samoa on Friday night and was to depart for Fiji on Saturday afternoon, with other stops expected to be Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.
In a duel for influence, Australia's new Foreign Minister Penny Wong was in Fiji on Friday, seeking to woo island states after the Solomon Islands took Canberra by surprise last month by signing a wide-ranging security pact with China.
"We have expressed our concerns publicly about the security agreement," Ms Wong told reporters in the capital of Suva.
"As do other Pacific islands, we think there are consequences. We think that it's important that the security of the region be determined by the region. And historically, that has been the case. And we think that is a good thing."
At the first stop in Honiara on Thursday, Mr Wang lashed out at "smears and attacks" against the security pact already signed with the Solomon Islands.
While the wide-ranging draft agreement and a five-year plan circulated to several pacific nations, both obtained by AFP, would give China a larger security footprint in a region seen as crucial to the interests of the United States and its allies.
In a stark letter to fellow Pacific leaders, Federated States of Micronesia President David Panuelo warned the agreement seems "attractive" at first glance but would allow China to "acquire access and control of our region".
Earlier this week, a leaked draft agreement indicates China wants 10 Pacific nations to endorse a sweeping agreement covering everything from security to fisheries.
The deal would include plans to train Pacific police officers, team up on "traditional and non-traditional security" and expand law enforcement cooperation.
