Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to travel to Fiji and the Solomon Islands in the coming week, with China's role in the Pacific again taking centre stage. Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong described the geopolitical dynamic as "a permanent contest", stating that "China is seeking to project its power and influence further into our region."
Nakamal Agreement Signed After Initial Snub
Wong's comments came after the signing of the Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu on Monday, a deal that provides "certainty for Australia that there will be no foreign military base" in the island nation. The agreement was a triumph for the Albanese Government, which faced embarrassment last year when a planned signing ceremony in Vanuatu was abruptly cancelled after the hosts had second thoughts. The agreement was finally signed at Parliament House in Canberra.
Pressed on whether Vanuatu would also sign a security pact with China, visiting Prime Minister Jotham Napat indicated a deal was likely, saying "once I get the clearance from Beijing. So, currently it is not yet signed."
Talks in Fiji and Solomon Islands
Albanese and Wong will now head to Fiji and the Solomon Islands for further talks. The political situation in the Solomons is considered particularly delicate regarding potential alliances with China. Despite the challenges, Washington-based China analyst Mark Cozad of the RAND Corporation praised Australia's approach of seeking agreements with Pacific neighbours, calling it "a very important strategy."
In an interview for the 7NEWS podcast The Issue, Cozad, a former US intelligence analyst, argued that such agreements are crucial to "enhance these relationships (and) provide incentives for those countries to work more closely with the West, in this case Australia." He added, "I don't think it's a foregone conclusion in any respect that China's going to have an open door in all of these places. I think many people are very wide-eyed about what the Chinese bring."
