Australia, Papua New Guinea Sign Defense Pact Amid China Influence Concerns

Melbourne, Sep 15 (AP) Australia and Papua New Guinea are set to integrate their defense forces under a new security pact, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The deal aims to counter China's expanding influence in the region and will be signed this week.

Albanese announced that he and Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, James Marape, would formalize the agreement on Wednesday, a day following the celebration of Papua New Guinea's 50th anniversary of independence from Australia. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau is also scheduled to visit Port Moresby for the events.

"This is a very significant upgrade in our defense relationship," Albanese stated during an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corp. in Perth, just before his flight to Papua New Guinea. He emphasized the mutual defense aspect of the pact, which includes collaborative support and enhanced interoperability between the two nations' defense forces.

Papua New Guinea, with a population nearing 12 million, stands as the most populous nation in the South Pacific following Australia, which has a population of 27 million. The new agreement allows citizens from both countries to serve in either country's military. Additionally, Australia will offer citizenship to Papua New Guineans as an incentive to join the Australian military.

Currently, Australia recruits only from its Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partners: the United States, Britain, Canada, and New Zealand. The growing influence of China in the Pacific, especially through police training programs in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, has prompted concern among the US and its allies.

In 2023, Australia and Papua New Guinea signed a security agreement to strengthen their defense cooperation, enhancing Australia's status as the preferred security partner in the region. However, the finalization was postponed due to protests in Papua New Guinea in May 2023. These protests were in response to a separate security agreement with the US, raising fears of compromised national sovereignty.

Oliver Nobetau from the Lowy Institute highlighted the importance of the new pact's language regarding exclusivity. He pointed out that many Pacific island nations prefer not to choose sides amidst the strategic competition between China and US allies.

"If there's any wording around Australia being the security partner of choice for a country like Papua New Guinea, that would be a significant win for Australia," Nobetau remarked. He added that Pacific nations, including Papua New Guinea, are keen on protecting their sovereignty, favoring partnerships that don't exclude third-party collaborations.

Recent negotiations between Australia and Vanuatu stalled over concerns within the Vanuatu government about potential impacts on infrastructure funding from China. Meanwhile, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles described the new bilateral treaty with Papua New Guinea as transformative, replacing an agreement set in 1977 with an independent Papua New Guinea.

Marles indicated that discussions would continue with Fiji and Tonga about enhancing bilateral defense cooperation. (AP) GRS GRS

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