China playing the ‘the great game’ against Australia in the Pacific, Kurt Campbell says
Australia should expect opposition from China at every step as it seeks allies and friends in the Pacific, warns former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell.
Former US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell has warned that China will seek to sabotage all Australian initiatives in the Pacific, including its stalled security deal with Papua New Guinea, because “the great game is afoot” between the two countries and Beijing is “relentless”.
In an ominous warning, Dr Campbell, the key driver of US policy in the Indo-Pacific in Joe Biden’s administration, said it was critical that Australia stepped up in the Pacific region now because US influence had fallen away under Donald Trump.
“The politics of the Pacific are increasingly contested, and the great game is afoot,” Dr Campbell told the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
“I will say I’ve been very impressed at how Australia has stepped into the gap (because) you’ve seen some countries, including the United States, fall back with respect to our aid and our assistance programs.’
When asked about the delay from the PNG government in signing a historic security deal with Australia, Dr Campbell hinted at possible Chinese interference.
“I think it suggests that this is a region at strategic play, and that China is relentless, and they use all venues of engagement to try to block and block initiatives like the ones that Australia has initiated,” he said. “What Australia has done in a comprehensive fashion in PNG, beginning with sport, looking at training, and then also focusing on security, I think is ingenious and important.”
Dr Campbell said it was not surprising that there were “last-minute challenges” in finalising Australia’s security deal with PNG as well as the recent postponement of the proposed security deal with Vanuatu, because all of these deals were contested behind the scenes.
“I do not believe that China’s pattern of engagement or practices among the Pacific Islands, in any way will halt or diminish,” he said.
He added that it was up to Australia, New Zealand and the US to keep fighting to win hearts of minds in the region.
“We (must) address the central issues that basically define life in the Pacific: dealing with climate change, resilience, societal resilience, illegal fishing, jobs, opportunities, communications with undersea cables,” he said.
Dr Campbell called on Anthony Albanese to help persuade the Trump administration to re-engage in the Pacific following severe cuts to US aid and diplomatic presence in the region.
“I fully believe that Prime Minister Albanese will make the appeal to President Trump to re-engage, to continue the strong partnership with Australia in the Pacific,” he said.
Dr Campbell said he believed Mr Albanese could also play an important role in repairing the rift in US-India triggered by Mr Trump’s tariffs on India in retaliation for Delhi’s ongoing imports of Russian oil.
The rift has placed in doubt the scheduled leader’s meeting of the four nation Quad grouping of India, the US, Australia and Japan which was established to help counter China in the region.
“We have some challenges now (with the Quad),” Dr Campbell said.
“I believe what is going to be necessary is someone to help bridge and bring together two powerful, wilful, important leaders in the forms of Prime Minister Modi and President Trump.
“I think this is something that would be right up the alley of Prime Minister Albanese (and) it is my fervent hope that Australia will play a role in trying to bring back together what I think is one of the most important institutions in the Indo-Pacific.”
Dr Campbell said that, despite the relative lack of public discussion in Washington about the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact, he was confident that the pact was on track and that it had solid support from the Trump administration.
He also said he agreed with the opinion of many defence experts who had called on Australia to lift defence spending beyond its current 2 per cent of GDP. But he did not support efforts by the Trump administration to dictate those spending levels.
“The (security) dynamics are clear and I think you will see Australia responding to those challenges going forward,” he said.
“I’ve made very clear to Australian colleagues that I do believe more defence spending is relevant and timely and frankly, important, but ultimately, these are decisions for the Australian people. I think the key players inside the government and the opposition understand the stakes. This is not something that we can wait on. The urgencies are clear.
“(But) the key here is that Australia is a sovereign, democratic nation, and it must make these decisions on its own. It’s not appropriate for another country to come in and dictate terms.”
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