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AUSTRALIA-VANUATU-CHINA-SECURITY-DIPLOMACY
Australia and Vanuatu to negotiate security pact
SYDNEY, June 25, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Australia will negotiate a security
treaty with Vanuatu, it announced Monday, just months after a report
suggesting China wanted to build a military base on the Pacific nation.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called Vanuatu one of Canberra’s “key
partners” and after hosting his counterpart Charlot Salwai said a security
pact was in the works.
“We agreed to commence negotiations on a bilateral security treaty on
common security interests, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster
response, maritime surveillance and border security, police and defence
cooperation,” Turnbull said.
He added that Australia would provide technical assistance to support Port
Vila in developing its first national security strategy to ensure a “stable,
sustainable and prosperous Vanuatu”.
Canberra also agreed to better fund Vanuatu’s education sector, boost
opportunities for its residents to work in Australia and strengthen a cyber-
security partnership.
Regional capitals have been fretting over the rise of an increasingly
assertive China in the Pacific through “soft diplomacy”, with Beijing
showering countries with development money.
Australia and New Zealand fear it could potentially upset the region’s
strategic balance.
In April, the Sydney Morning Herald said China had approached Vanuatu about
the possibility of opening a military base there, sparking alarm in Canberra.
Beijing and Port Vila both insisted there was no such plan.
Salwai’s visit is the latest in a flurry of activity to Canberra in recent
months.
Turnbull has also hosted the leaders of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon
Islands, while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has visited Palau, Micronesia
and the Marshall Islands.
Australia announced a refocusing of its foreign aid programmes in May in a
move to win hearts and minds in the island nations of the Pacific.
Earlier this month, it agreed to help fund and build an underseas
communications cable to the Solomon Islands.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1155 hrs