US set to open Tonga embassy in May as Pacific push ramps up

Top east Asia diplomat says US also in talks with Vanuatu and Kiribati on proposed embassies, amid concerns about China’s presence in region

• China’s influence in the Pacific explained in 30 seconds

The United States is on track to open a new embassy in Tonga this month, the top US diplomat for east Asia said, as part of the efforts to step up its diplomatic presence in the Pacific region to counter China.

Daniel Kritenbrink told a subcommittee of the senate foreign relations committee on Tuesday that the United States was also continuing to engage with Vanuatu and Kiribati about opening proposed new embassies in those countries.