DAMPAK KONTESTASI BANTUAN LUAR NEGERI AMERIKA SERIKAT DAN CHINA TERHADAP KONSTELASI POLITIK DI KAWASAN PASIFIK SELATAN

This study analyzes the impact of foreign aid competition between the United States and China on the political constellation in the South Pacific region, which holds significant potential in natural resources, economy, and security and military aspects. The influence competition between these two countries through foreign aid affects the alliance patterns of nations in this region, such as the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Nauru. Utilizing Stephen M. Walt's Balance of Threat theory, this research explores how these countries respond to the threats and opportunities arising from this rivalry and how their foreign policy choices adapt to the influence of major powers. Through a qualitative explanatory method, this study finds that aid from the United States and China not only affects the economies of South Pacific countries but also shapes the region's political constellation and security stability, with the formation of alliances that tend to be dynamic. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the geopolitical dynamics in the South Pacific and their implications for regional stability.