Australia to host Pacific leaders as China threat looms
Anthony Albanese will host three Pacific premiers as they seek to strengthen Australia’s regional influence in the face of the growing threat from China.
Bilateral meetings with Papua New Guinea’s James Marape, Tonga’s Lord Fakafanua and Samoa’s La’auli Leuatea Schmidt will be followed by a Pacific rugby league event in Brisbane attended by all four leaders.
Mr Albanese will also host prime ministers at the State of Origin decision meeting at Suncorp Stadium.
The Prime Minister has returned from a successful trip to Fiji and the Solomon Islands, where he signed a major defense agreement with Fiji.
The Peace Ocean Alliance, which could be expanded to include other Pacific countries, makes Fiji Australia’s fourth official ally.
Since 2023, Australia has signed agreements with Tuvalu and Nauru, an alliance with Papua New Guinea and the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called for a bilateral agreement with Australia that expands on work done in 2017.
Mr Wale hopes to move quickly to maintain his government’s support in what would be a stark turnaround from favoring Chinese security deals.
Henry Ivarature of the Australian Pacific Security College said Australia had done an “exceptionally good” job of cementing itself as the regional hub for Pacific nations.
He expected ongoing talks to expand Australia’s presence in neighboring islands would signal a new era of power for the region.
“I think Australia has learned to listen and has learned to accept the way Pacific governments operate. It has been patient,” he said.
But Dr Ivarature said attention would now turn to maintaining trust over a long period of time, which shared interests such as rugby league were likely to help facilitate.
“You have to keep your house warm,” he said.
“Such agreements need to be maintained. When I go to small islands like Tuvalu and see Australian shipments there, it’s a really positive sign.”
The Brisbane talks will focus on expanding military and aid efforts in the Pacific as China emerges as a geopolitical threat.
Beijing tested a long-range missile in the South Pacific just as Australia and Fiji signed their alliance.
“It’s a very, very bad picture of relationships,” Dr Ivarature said.
“The Pacific just wants to preserve the peace zone.
“Australia needs to engage with the Pacific to keep Chinese influence at bay, if not outright.”
