>## Key Findings from Lowy Institute Pacific Aid Map > Australia now tops the list as the largest donor to foreign aid across the Pacific, with a funding share of around 37%. China ranks fifth with a funding share of just six percent. While Australia has edged out china in aid spending, Beijing still plays a big role in the region. >## Australian Government Commitment > A major proportion of the money donated is directed towards infrastructure spending through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AiFFP). The AIFFP has already given more than $850 million to Pacific states. >## What Does This Mean? > The map’s lead author, Riley Duke of the Lowy Institute says the latest data presents a 'striking' shift. While historically China was in the leading position for foreign aid spending, Australia now finds and funds infrastructure projects worth billions of dollars across much of the Pacific. > For many small Pacific island states, Chinese loans have caused significant issues - it is unclear if this will happen to Australian loans to smaller Island nations however. This marks a new era of infrastructure finance that puts pressure on Australia to prove themselves in these projects. >## China’s Influence Still Present > Although Australia has moved up the rankings in terms of foreign aid spending, China continues to exert significant influence over much of Pacific states via Chinese-built Projects and Grants - many grants provided by China are being handed out at a much higher rate. >## Success in Infrastructure Spending > The Lowy Institute estimates that from 2019-2021 the AiFFP gave $2.3 billion towards infrastructure projects alongwith around 900 million more dollars in grant money.