Australia the ‘security partner of choice’ in South Pacific: PM Albanese
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia is the "security partner of choice" for Papua New Guinea.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SYDNEY – Australia is the “security partner of choice” for neighbouring Papua New Guinea (PNG), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Jan 30, after the biggest Pacific Island nation said China was seeking a policing and security deal.
PNG’s Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko on Jan 29 said major trade partner China approached the country in September 2023 with an offer to assist its police force with training, equipment and surveillance technology.
Talks were at an early stage, and PNG would not jeopardise its security ties with Australia and the US, he added.
Papua New Guinea struck a A$200 million (S$177 million) security agreement with Australia
“We are the security partner of choice for Papua New Guinea, as we are for most of the countries in the Pacific,” Mr Albanese told reporters on Jan 30, in response to questions.
China’s Ambassador to Australia said in January that Beijing has a strategy to help Pacific Island nations with policing, not defence, and its growing presence in the region should not alarm Australia.
In a statement on Jan 30, Mr Tkachenko said China’s offer of policing and internal security assistance was “being carefully assessed, as we do not want to duplicate or compromise agreements already in place with our traditional security partners, Australia and the United States of America”.
PNG has previously said it saw China as an economic partner, and Australia and the US as security partners.
“We have a longstanding and genuine relationship with China, where we can agree to disagree,” Mr Tkachenko added.
In an effort to counter China’s push to increase security ties in countries where Canberra has long provided policing support, Australia pledged A$35 million for policing assistance in Timor Leste on Jan 29. REUTERS
