EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: Infrastructure projects in the Pacific Islands, funded by China, might seem purely civilian, but they could potentially give Beijing military access in the future. This warning comes from top officials of a bipartisan congressional advisory panel in an exclusive conversation with Fox News Digital.

Members of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission have expressed concerns that runways, ports, and other facilities financed by China are often “dual-use.” These projects are perceived as part of a strategic endeavor where economic investments align with long-term military objectives.

“When there’s a noticeable trend of militarization in the region, it becomes evident that certain activities hint at underlying security and military intentions,” stated Randall Schriver, chair of the commission. “Even if infrastructure is labeled for civilian use, its inherent dual-purpose nature means it can easily be adapted for military use.”

During the groundbreaking ceremony for the Woleai runway project in Yap State in May 2025, representatives of a Chinese company proudly displayed a banner. This event underscores China’s expanding influence in the region. (Cleo Paskal)

Schriver emphasized that China’s investments in the Pacific should be seen as part of a broader geopolitical strategy. “China’s ambitions are vast, and even seemingly civilian projects come with hidden conditions,” he explained. “In many cases, these conditions involve providing access to the Chinese military.”

Michael Kuiken, Vice Chair of the commission, pointed out that China often combines infrastructure investments with financial leverage. “There’s a cycle of debt diplomacy at play,” Kuiken noted. “China burdens these islands with debt, then exploits their financial vulnerabilities to secure access—constructing runways and enhancing port facilities.”

“It’s a cycle that we see over and over again,” he added, calling it “a flywheel of debt diplomacy. There’s a vicious rinse-and-repeat cycle here. And whether it’s Taiwan, Palau, Micronesia or the Solomon Islands, it is a playbook that the Chinese go back to every time.”

Image shows an LRAD being tested in Guam, December 2025. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Angel Campbell)

US response came too slowly, commission says

Schriver acknowledged Washington was slow to recognize the security implications of China’s expansion in the region.

“In a word, yes,” he said when asked whether the U.S. reacted too slowly.

He noted the timing coincided with major U.S. military investments in Guam, even as Chinese projects advanced nearby. “While this was happening, the Chinese were making inroads in the Pacific Islands… with great proximity to Guam,” he said, describing the island as central to U.S. logistics and combat operations.

Asked what would signal a shift from civilian infrastructure to operational military use, Schriver said some warning indicators are already visible.

Chinese laborers work at a construction site. June 22, 2005. (Claro Cortes IV CC/CCK/Reuters)

“The practice of undersea cable cutting… has been very provocative,” he said, describing it as activity that could be tied to military contingencies.

He also warned that visible deployments of Chinese military aircraft to Pacific facilities would mark a major escalation, citing a pattern previously seen in the South China Sea.

The runway at Woleai in Yap State, part of a Chinese-backed infrastructure project in the Federated States of Micronesia. (Cleo Paskal)

“We’ve seen a particular pattern that wouldn’t surprise us at all to see in other parts of Oceania,” Schriver said.

Kuiken urged lawmakers to increase scrutiny and transparency. “The thing members can do most easily is just ask the intelligence community for imagery and for intelligence reports… raise the alarm, shine a light on it and expose the activities,” he said.

Kuiken also revealed a future hearing focused on undersea infrastructure and security risks in the region.

“Data is the lifeblood of the global economy these days,” he said. “Those cables are a vital source of information… and those are really quite aggressive actions and need to be exposed.”

Policy recommendations and next steps

The commission has proposed a broader U.S. response, including increased Coast Guard cooperation and expanded support for Pacific Island nations to strengthen resilience against security threats and economic pressure.

Palau, an island in the Philippine Sea, Northern Pacific Ocean, Oct. 6, 2015. (iStock)

Schriver referenced a “Pacific Island Security Initiative” recommendation aimed at combining economic, law enforcement and defense engagement.

Kuiken described the approach as “a layered cake.” “We want there to be a civilian aspect… a law enforcement piece… and a military piece,” he said. “You sort of need to do all of them in order to really be effective and really to combat the influence of the Chinese in this space.”