Fiji, Sept. 16 -- The United States says it shares concerns with Pacific Island countries over China's activities in the region, including illegal fishing, economic coercion and the recent launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matt Murray said Washington was concerned about what he described as China's "malign activities" in the Pacific, while stressing that stronger U.S engagement was not solely aimed at countering Beijing.

"The United States certainly shares concerns with our Pacific Island partners related to China's malign activities in the Pacific," Murray said during a virtual press briefing.

He listed illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, elite capture and corruption, econom...