Regular readers of this blog will have been following the news about China’s push into the Pacific, with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s tour of the region coinciding with our own Foreign Minister, Penny Wong’s, visit.
Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Mataʻafa has already accused China of attempting to ram through a Pacific-wide trade, policing and security deal without enough time for consultation, and suggested the Pacific Island Forum could have been a more appropriate way for China to convey its agenda.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has been touring the Pacific in a diplomatic mission to counter China’s influence in the region.Credit:Getty
Wong this morning spoke to Patricia Karvelas on RN Breakfast about the importance of the region and some of the mistakes China may have made as it wooed Australia’s neighbours.
“In relation to the Pacific Island forum, that is the architecture that is by which the region has dealt with its issues. It’s the architecture that the forum is the way by which the Pacific has dealt with both internal and external issues that needed to be managed. That is the reason why the first visit I made was to Fiji and the first speech I gave in the Pacific was at the Pacific Island Forum, which is a signal about the importance Australia places on that regional architecture.”
Wong also pointed out that Australia had decided not visit Papua New Guinea during its election campaign so as to avoid the appearance of political interference, but China had no such concerns.
She also addressed expectations around future engagement with China, emphasising the need for a rules-based global order.
“We have an interest in a world a way of trade and economic engagement is open is free and is predicated on rules, predictable rules and norms. The concern that Australia has raised about the Chinese economic measures against Australia is that they undermine that principle.
“We have a long-standing position, to be fair to both parties of government for decades, that we have seen trade arrangements internationally as being a very important part of what you might call the rules-based order that basically makes sure that nations can deal with each other in ways that are respectful and predictable.”
Australia’s commitment to helping the region tackle the existential threat of climate change will be further on display today with Wong’s visit to Tonga.
“We said in the election we would bring new energy and more resources to the Pacific. We said that we would have a much more ambitious position on climate which of course is such a central issue for the Pacific island nations,” Wong said.
