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Abstract Climate change has become one of the greatest concerns of small island states, but most of them are constrained by their development and are dependent on assistance and supports from others to cope with the impacts of climate change. Such a need has become more urgent in recent years. In the 2023 Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty, Tuvalu received climate assistance from Australia at a high price, including access to Tuvalu’s foreign and security affairs. The potential impacts of climate change on the international legal personality of small island states and their rights to the maritime areas are an important entry point for understanding the true motivations for the treaty. More notably, the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union Treaty reflects a trend in the practice of some major powers to use climate assistance as a fulcrum for deeper involvement in the internal and external affairs of small island states. If this kind of climate cooperation evolves from an isolated case into a fixed paradigm, the major powers will continue to expand their influence over small island states. Other small island states will have to seek refuge in the major powers for their own survival, and the regional organizations established by the small island states to fight against the control of the major powers will be dismantled. These situations will change the current geopolitical landscape of the small island regions. The game between major powers and small island states in dealing with climate change will also have a potential impact on China’s promotion of in-depth cooperation with small island states. In view of this, China should, from the basic position of respecting state sovereignty and independence, resist the practice of intervening in the internal and external affairs of small island states in the name of climate cooperation, actively provide the small island states with targeted climate change coping programs and promote its climate diplomacy.
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