How China dominates Pacific mining, logging and fishing

Here is a lengthy but fascinating read about the extent to which China dominates the market for every raw material in the Pacific region, and how it has been able to acquire access to them relatively cheaply.

Across mining, forestry and fishing China extracts more by weight from the region than the next 10 countries combined, something that gives it an awful lot if influence.

"China is a natural customer for the Pacific’s exports. But experts say the outsized take also has to do with China’s lack of laws against importing illegal timber, and poor accountability for environmental or social impacts.”