Jul 28, 2026 – 10.30pmAustralia and multilateral development banks are bankrolling key infrastructure projects across the Pacific, but Chinese state-owned firms are dominating high-value construction contracts as Beijing adopts a more targeted strategy to expand its footprint in the strategic region.As the contest for influence in the region intensifies, the 2026 Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map on Wednesday will reveal Australia is now the largest source of new loan commitments, but China has switched to a high-visibility grant model aimed at encouraging geopolitical shifts to achieve its political goals.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles