China says Pacific not sphere of influence of any country

Islands in the South Pacific don't fall within any country's sphere of influence, a Chinese diplomat said Tuesday, amid growing resistance to Beijing's efforts to broaden its footprint in a region long dominated by the United States, Australia and their allies.

Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said other countries should abandon what he called a "Cold War mentality and the zero-sum game mentality which are both outdated." Asian leaders are meeting this month in Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

"The Pacific island region is not a sphere of influence of any country," Zheng told reporters at a news briefing. "And we hope that all can contribute more to the development of the island countries' economies, the improvement of their peoples' livelihoods and contribute to the peace and stability of this region."