Battle over the Pacific between the US and China

The battle over the Pacific between the United States and China is growing.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to this weeks Pacific Island Forum symbolises the growing tension between America and China over their positions in the region.

Both countries are sending large delegations to this week's Pacific Island Forum in Rarotonga, the American one headed by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

John Key is there and will have a lunch meeting with Ms Clinton on Saturday.

China has a growing presence in Fiji, but our Prime Minister is brushing aside the tensions.

He says America has had a historic presence in the region, and always will, and China is expanding in the Pacific as it is around the world.

Mr Key says the focus has to be on working constructively with China.

"No I'm not worried about it, it's not something you can stop anyway. To start off China has grown tentacles around the world, it's been growing a foot print around the world, it's well acknowledged and even if New Zealand didn't like it it's not about to stop."

A warm and cheerful welcome was given by the people of the nation to the leaders, with hundreds of locals packing into the national stadium to sing and cheer as our Prime Minister and others were carried in high in the air on wooden platforms.

Cook Islands' Prime Minister Henry Puna welcomed the Pacific leaders to his country by singing a song.

Mr Puna joked about the look on their faces as that happened, praising Australia's Julia Gillard.

The leaders meet for dinner tonight before getting down to serious business tomorrow.

Photo: Getty Images