Key facts
- Australia has signed new security and defence treaties with Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
- These agreements aim to counter China's growing influence and potential military presence in the Pacific.
- Fiji and PNG have agreed to make Australia their main strategic partner.
- China conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test in the South Pacific on July 6.
- Pacific leaders have expressed alarm over China's missile test, citing sensitivity to weapons testing.
Australia has intensified its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific, securing new security and defence agreements with Fiji and Papua New Guinea, signaling a shift in regional allegiances away from China. These moves come as China conducted a test of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine in the South Pacific on July 6, an act that has alarmed regional leaders.
For the past four years, Australia has been actively working to bolster its relationships with small Pacific nations, which had increasingly been aligning with China. The recent signing of a mutual defence treaty with Fiji, the most populous nation in the region, capped a series of agreements that suggest Australia is gaining an edge in this diplomatic contest. Pacific expert Oliver Nobetau noted that Pacific nations are now "siding with Australia," positioning Canberra to block any potential Chinese military foothold.
Australia's strategy has involved a "piecemeal approach," tailoring incentives to the specific needs of each country. Fiji received policing support, Tuvalu gained access to a migration scheme for climate change-vulnerable residents, Nauru received assistance with banking services, and Papua New Guinea received development support and entry into Australia's rugby league competition as part of a significant funding package. These efforts have resulted in landmark security pacts where countries have designated Australia as their primary strategic partner.
The defence treaties signed with Fiji and PNG, both countries with militaries, go further by promising mutual aid in case of armed attack. New Zealand has also indicated a potential willingness to join such a regional alliance. The Chinese missile test, occurring amidst this diplomatic maneuvering, has drawn strong condemnation from Pacific leaders, who are particularly sensitive to weapons testing due to historical nuclear tests in the region.