PNG ‘keeps’ China for the economy, US for external defence, Australia for internal security: PM

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Monday said ‘there was no conversation on security’ when he visited Beijing earlier this year

He added that his country was ‘in the oil and gas business’ and he did not want to be lectured on climate change by rich nations

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Papua New Guineas Prime Minister James Marape speaks during an interview in Sydney on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:01am, 11 Dec 2023Updated: 12:16pm, 11 Dec 2023

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape said on Monday there had been no recent talks with China on security after the resource-rich nation signed a security agreement with neighbour Australia last week.

Marape said PNG had been transparent, and when he visited Beijing this year with his ministers “there was no conversation on security”.

“We keep them in the space of the economy, we went with traditional security partners for security,” he told a resources-investment conference in Sydney.

Marape shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in October. Photo: Xinhua

PNG signed a defence agreement with the United States in May, and struck a security deal with Australia last week that Marape said was focused on internal security, including boosting police numbers and the judiciary.

“These two are complementary. External security with the USA, and internal security with Australia,” he said.

The resource rich but largely undeveloped nation north of Australia is seeking to boost foreign investment and trade to boost its economy, amid an increasing jostle for influence in the region between the US and China, which signed a security pact with neighbouring Solomon Islands last year.

Marape said improving security was important for foreign investors.

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