WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – Fiji has joined the U.S. President Joe Biden’s Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. (IPEF) The White House announced on Thursday that Fiji will be joining the U.S. effort against China’s increasing regional influence.

The announcement comes as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi begins a sweeping tour of Pacific Island nations – including Fiji – a region that is becoming an increasingly tense front in competition for influence between Beijing and Washington.

Wang visited the region to seek a deal between 10 countries and island nations on trade and security. This has alarmed the United States as well as its Pacific Allies.

Fiji was welcomed by the White House as a founding member in IPEF. It now comprises countries from Northeast, Southeast Asia and Oceania.

National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that “Across geographies, we are united by our commitment to a Free, Open, and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region.” This statement highlights Fiji’s unique perspective on the battle against climate change.

Senior administration officials stated that IPEF was now representative of all the Indo-Pacific regions with Fiji’s accession.

Biden inaugurated IPEF during his inaugural trip to Asia as president. Asia has been longing for greater U.S. engagement in economic affairs.

Fiji has become the 14th nation to sign up for IPEF discussions, which are not open to China.

Washington, which has lost an economic pillar in its Indo-Pacific engagement after former President Donald Trump left a trans-Pacific multilateral trade agreement partly out of concerns over U.S. employment, is now without one.

IPEF will not contain binding commitments.