Centre-right Coalition Senator James Paterson has warned that Australia is engaged in a “zero-sum” game for influence in the Pacific against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Paterson, who is chair of the Australian Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, said the federal government had known for some time that Beijing had “expansive ambitions” for the…
Australia Engaged in ‘Zero Sum’ Game for Influence With China for the Pacific
Beijing to Help Expand Solomons Biggest Hospital Amid Influence Battle in South Pacific
In a sign of strong ongoing ties between Beijing and the Solomon Islands governments, officials from both countries have signed-off on the construction of a new medical centre at the National Referral Hospital in the capital Honiara. The hospital is the largest in the Pacific nation with 300 beds and 50 doctors with the new…
US to Do More in the Pacific Amid Concerns Over Beijing-Solomons Security Deal
The Biden administration plans to invite leaders from the Pacific Island nations to the White House in an effort to shore up diplomatic ties in the South Pacific following the signing of a contentious security deal between Beijing and the Solomon Islands. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell told attendees of the U.S.-New Zealand Business Summit on…
Solomons Playing US and China Off Against Each Other: Diplomacy Expert
The contentious security deal between the Solomon Islands and Beijing is a sign the Pacific nation is exploiting “Great Power” competition between China and democratic allies in the region, according to a diplomacy expert. Joseph Siracusa, adjunct professor of international diplomacy at Curtin University, said smaller nations would play “small power politics” when wedged between…
PM Scott Morrison Says China has ‘Form on Foreign Interference’ in Australia
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Saturday that China has “form”—or a record—on foreign interference in Australia and that his government is “very aware” of the influence that Beijing seeks to have in the country. “So any suggestion that China, the Chinese government, doesn’t seek to interfere in Australia—well, we didn’t put that legislation in…
US to Bolster Security Ties With PNG Amid Concerns Over Beijing-Solomons Security Deal
The United States will be looking to increase security ties with Pacific nation Papua New Guinea (PNG)—Australia’s northern neighbour—amid the fallout of a freshly minted agreement between Beijing and the Solomon Islands that could see Chinese troops and weapons stationed in the region. Daniel Kritenbrink, the assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific…
‘Bits and Bytes’: Australian PM Warns Conflict With Beijing Could Be Fought in Cyberspace
A conflict with Beijing will not be limited to tanks and weapons, and instead will encompass a wide array of domains including cyber, according to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. The prime minister was responding to questions over Australia’s readiness to confront a more aggressive Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the region, saying the AUKUS…
Japan Dispatches Envoy to Solomon Islands Over Chinese Security Pact
Japan dispatched a vice foreign minister to the Solomon Islands on Monday following the official signing of a security deal between the small Pacific nation and China, which Tokyo feared would undermine regional stability. Vice foreign minister Kentaro Uesugi was tasked with relaying Tokyo’s reservations about the agreement and discussing bilateral matters with the Solomons…
Australian PM Says Chinese Military Base in the Solomons Would Cross ‘Red Line’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says a military base in the Solomon Islands would be the “red line” for Australia following recent revelations that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had signed a security deal with Pacific nation that could open the door for Beijing to station troops and weapons in the region. Morrison’s comments comes after…
US to ‘Respond Accordingly’ If Solomon Islands-China Pact Permits Military Base
The United States has warned the Solomon Islands’ leadership that it would “respond accordingly” if a military installation on the Pacific Islands nation is allowed under the terms of the Solomon Islands-China security pact. The White House stated Friday that a high-level U.S. delegation has met with the Solomon Islands’ leadership in Honiara and raised…
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