Here is the whole report: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/pacific-aid-map-2023-key-findings-report
TLDR:
China’s financing in the Pacific region has gone from "loud and brash" to a self-styled strategy of "small and beautiful", ushering in a new trend of downsized, more politically targeted development loans, the Australian Lowy Institute says in a report.
The annual 'Pacific Aid Map' — launched by the Lowy Institute in 2018 — is an analytical tool designed to improve aid and development effectiveness in the Pacific Islands region. It seeks to do this by enhancing the transparency of Official Development Finance (ODF) flows to Pacific Island states.
China’s total ODF engagement fell to $241m in 2021, below its pre-pandemic historical average of $285m a year. The Lowy Institute said Beijing’s financing had become “more strategically targeted at the most China-friendly Pacific Island states”.
The Lowy Institute continues saying that China’s decreasing engagement “has not signalled a wholesale departure from the region, but rather a strategic shift to reduce risk, cement political ties, and enhance capital returns”.
Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been surprisingly little new Chinese financing in the region. China's total development finance disbursements fell to just $241 million in 2021, below its pre-pandemic historical average of $285 million per year. This year, Beijing’s Official Development Finance commitments were a quarter that of its historical average," according to the Lowy Institute.
The Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility is reshaping regional development financing, with infrastructure set to increasingly eclipse health and education as major donor priorities.
Australia has become the leading source of loans. While providing much needed development support, this comes at a time of elevated debt sustainability risks in the Pacific.
Climate development financing has grown steadily but remains well below that needed, especially for adaptation. Japan leads the way with the greatest focus on climate projects.
New data for this edition show donors have collectively been less focused on gender equality than in other regions but this is set to change given ambitious Australian targets.