US President Joe Biden announced the United States' official recognition of the Cook Islands and Niue in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, while hosting regional leaders in an effort to limit China's influence.

Biden stated that Washington recognizes them as “independent and sovereign” countries and will establish diplomatic relations with them, noting that the step will contribute to supporting “a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

The announcement came at the start of a summit with the 18-country Pacific Islands Forum, during which US officials said the president would announce a stronger stance toward the region.

Biden stated that the two-state recognition agreements will help reduce illegal fishing and deal with climate change in a region that is vulnerable to its risks, as well as promoting economic growth.

Although their combined population does not exceed twenty thousand people, the Cook Islands and Niue constitute a large economic region in the South Pacific.

The two countries are self-governing with "free association" with New Zealand, meaning their foreign and defense policies are linked to varying degrees to Wellington. After being relatively ignored for decades, the South Pacific region has become an important theater of competition between the United States and an increasingly influential China.

China has significantly intensified its economic, political and military presence in the strategic ocean region.

A senior White House official, who requested anonymity, said, "There is no doubt that the People's Republic of China played some kind of role in all of this."

He added, "China's influence, especially in this region, was a factor that required us to maintain our strategic focus."

The forum includes countries and territories scattered in the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to small countries with sparse populations and archipelagos.

In an indication of Chinese influence, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavar, who is close to China, was absent from the meeting.