Wary of China’s growing influence, Australia overhauls its role in the Pacific with US$2.2 billion in development funds
- Australia has long been a major political player in much of the south and west Pacific, but has lost ground with China delivering massive investment
- Without mentioning China by name, Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed common values and said he would expand diplomatic footprint
With an eye on China’s growing role in the Pacific, Australia on Thursday announced A$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in financial enticements to boost its presence in the region, accompanied by a series of security and political initiatives.
Beijing is piling investment into the Pacific, sending ever more fishing vessels deeper into its waters and reportedly mulling the construction of a military base on Vanuatu. Faced with this increasing Chinese influence, Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to take Australia’s engagement “to a new level”.
“We want to work with our Pacific Islands partners to build a Pacific region that is secure strategically, stable economically and sovereign politically,” Morrison said while preparing for a major Asian-Pacific summit in Port Moresby next week.
He underscored a series of security, economic and diplomatic initiatives, including the donation of patrol boats and the development of a joint military base in Papua New Guinea.
The centrepiece however is cold hard cash – much sought after by poverty-hit countries in the region – with Morrison announcing a A$2 billion fund “to significantly boost Australia’s support for infrastructure development in Pacific countries and Timor-Leste [East Timor]”.