Foreign Minister Penny Wong is racing to stop Pacific nations signing regional security deals with China as fears grow that up to a dozen countries could enter Solomons-style deals with Beijing | ErykBagshaw
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is racing to stop China from signing a new regional security deal with the Pacific, as fears grow that up to 10 nations could enter a Solomons-style security deal with Beijing.on a new draft document that would significantly expand Beijing’s footprint in the region.
The new Labor government had been briefed that an expansion of the Solomons deal was possible but only four days after winning the election faces the challenge of matching Beijing’s lobbying blitz in the region. Wong will fly to Fiji on Thursday to meet with Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the first of up to a dozen visits in a six-week campaign ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum in August.“Australia will listen to our Pacific partners as we work together to face our shared challenges and achieve our shared goals – including tackling climate change, pandemic recovery, economic development and regional security,” she said on Wednesday.
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