Kamala Harris is set to appear at the Pacific Islands Forum where she'll tell leaders the US will 'significantly step up our game' to counter China's growing influence in the strategic region.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - who will touch down in Fiji on Wednesday to join his Foreign Minister Penny Wong for the forum - welcomed the investment, growth in the presence and engagement from the US.
"We discussed the need to re-engage with the Pacific and we do have an era of strategic competition with the region," Mr Albanese added. Over the weekend, China outlined four demands for Australia in hopes it would"seize the opportunity" to improve its strained relationship. He told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington there was"no more important partner" to Australia than the United States.
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