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Australia and New Zealand are expected to sign a comprehensive security pact with the South Pacific countries in September, as countries like China expand their ties in the region. The Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru is expected to coordinate disaster response and defense cooperation among the 18 countries of the forum.
Australia's Minister for International Development, Ms. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, yesterday told the Australian that the pact would strengthen cooperation
The agreement, in progress for some time, updates a similar pact signed in 2000. But it follows the increased concern in Australia and New Zealand about the conduct of China.
Yesterday, the New Zealand government explicitly warned of China's growing influence, saying it could affect stability in the region.
New Zealand defense forces have warned that China's increasing weight in the region is threatening the "values defended by traditional leaders of the order". He explicitly noted that New Zealand and Australia may find it difficult to retain their influence in the South Pacific as new actors emerge in the region
"Increasing challenges for the Asia-Pacific security. "New Zealand's national security remains directly tied to the stability of the Pacific, while Pacific Island countries' relations with non-traditional partners continue to grow, with traditional partners such as New Zealand. and Australia will be challenged to maintain its influence. "
WARS ARE NOT THE WAY
If you're looking for food security, warships are not the way to go, it's better to work in the community, to help communities. to develop their ability … to provide food, to ensure that fishing is sustainable in the waters.
MARK MARSHAL MARK BINSKIN, Chief of Defense of Australia
Australia and New Zealand are traditionally the main nations of the South Pacific, but worry about China's growing ties in the region.
According to the analysis of the Lowy Institute, China provided $ 1.8 billion, while Australia, the largest donor in the Pacific, plans to provide $ 1.3 billion ($ 1.31 billion) to the region this year.
Australian Minister of Home Affairs, Peter Dutton, declared the new pact It was not aimed at China but aimed at improving local ties.
"China is reaching out all over the world, including in our region," he told ABC News. "But in our neighborhood, we have the responsibility to work with our neighbors."
In recent months, China's role in the region has caused great concern
. Vanuatu, just weeks after the media reported that China was looking to build a military base there. China and Vanuatu vehemently denied these reports.
Canberra also agreed to fund a submarine telecommunications cable connecting the Solomon Islands to Australia and Papua New Guinea to prevent the development of the project by Huawei's Chinese. Mr. Smith, of the Australian National University, who is an expert on China's engagement in the Pacific, said that he believed that the new security pact – called Biketawa Plus – was Was not directly motivated by concerns about the Chinese regional influence. But he said it would allay Canberra's concerns about the growing involvement of other actors in the South Pacific. "China is not the only external factor on the horizon," he told the Straits Times. "Russians and Georgians went around the Pacific and, in the future, you will have India."
Dr. Smith said the Pacific countries tended to value Australian military cooperation and training. In contrast to China's more neutral approach, Australia has allowed direct training and integration with Australian troops.
Australian Defense Chief, Chief of Air Defense Mark Binskin, said yesterday that he did not believe that a reason to establish a military presence in the South Pacific.
"If you're looking for food security, warships are not the answer," he told Fairfax Media. as part of the community, help communities build their capacity … to provide food, to ensure that fishing is sustainable in the water.
His message to countries planning to increase their presence in the Australian neighborhood was: "not destabilizing the region."
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