Australia eyes security pact with Fiji as pushback from Beijing undermines agreement with Vanuatu | Asia Pacific
Australia appears close to signing a landmark security and economic agreement with Fiji as part of the Albanian government’s efforts to contain China’s growing influence in the Pacific.
But pushback from Beijing undermined a separate agreement with the Vanuatu government, leading to the scaling back of the deal that aimed to see Australia become the country’s primary security partner.
Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and Pacific Island affairs minister Pat Conroy were due to arrive in Suva on Tuesday afternoon as part of a three-day trip focusing on fuel security and strategic relationships.
The two are expected to advance a new agreement, known as the Vuvale Union, in talks with Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka and cabinet ministers.
Wong and Conroy have significantly increased turnout in the Pacific since Labor won the 2022 election, amid concerns that China is buying influence by funding major infrastructure projects and providing services, including policing.
This week’s visit is expected to include talks on energy security and major supply chain disruptions caused by the war in Iran. Wong and Conroy will also hold talks with Baron Waqa, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum secretariat.
Fiji will host a pre-Cop31 summit in October as part of a deal negotiated between Australia and Türkiye over rights to host the massive climate event in November.
Wong said Australia and Fiji shared an enduring partnership that helped the Pacific region remain “secure, stable and resilient”.
“Strengthening our ties with Fiji is an important part of Australia’s broader commitment to the Pacific, which is based on listening, partnership and long-term cooperation,” he said.
“Australia will continue to stand with Fiji and other Pacific Island partners to address fuel security challenges, including advocating for open and stable global supply routes so essential shipments can reach our region.”
Conroy welcomed the opportunity to advance the Vuvale Corps, including efforts to stop organized crime activity occurring in the area.
“We recognize that after climate change, transnational crime is the biggest security threat to the region,” he said. “So we will be discussing how Australia can support a coordinated regional response to transnational organized crime.”
Australia has used regional security agreements to strengthen cooperation with countries such as Tuvalu and Nauru and upgrade diplomatic ties with Papua New Guinea to a formal alliance.
The strategy comes after the Solomon Islands government signed a secret security agreement with China in 2022. This agreement caught the Morrison government and the New Zealand government “off guard”.
But efforts to secure the so-called Nakamal agreement with Vanuatu were blocked in September last year after government ministers raised concerns about promises of infrastructure funding from China.
Despite a visit from prime minister Anthony Albanese last year, Vanuatu leader Jotham Napat confirmed the delay regarding Vanuatu’s ability to continue seeking infrastructure funding from other countries.
China and Vanuatu are negotiating their own agreement, known as the Namele agreement. Napat said in April that it was a “comprehensive development cooperation agreement” and not a security agreement.
Beijing paid millions of dollars for improvements to government buildings in Vanuatu; This includes an $86 million gift last year to renovate the prime minister’s office.
Labor hopes to sign some sort of agreement with Vanuatu soon. The previous security agreement with Vanuatu, signed in 2022, was never formally approved by the country’s parliament due to a lack of consultation and concerns about whether it was consistent with Vanuatu’s philosophy of non-alignment in foreign policy.
