PNG security deal to push Beijing back

Australia’s pact with Papua New Guinea shows the two countries are united in pushing back China’s attempts to dominate the Pacific.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby on Thursday to sign the new security pact.

Australia will sign a new security pact with Papua New Guinea by June, as the two countries agree to move more quickly to push back against China’s regional ambitions and address entrenched law and order struggles facing the ­Pacific nation.

On the first day of a landmark visit, Anthony Albanese and PNG Prime Minister James Marape signed a joint statement promising negotiations on the bilateral security agreement would wrap up by April 30, with the new pact due to come into force by the ­middle of the year.

The treaty will follow similar Pacific agreements, including one signed with Vanuatu in December, and comes as China seeks to control sensitive infrastructure projects in PNG. Beijing is funding a new military hospital at Taurama Barracks in Port Moresby, prompting fears it could establish a military presence to Australia’s immediate north.

A joint statement said the new agreement would enable both countries to protect and enhance their independence, sovereignty and resilience, while also addressing “non-traditional security challenges” such as climate change, cybersecurity threats, and economic coercion.

Increased defence co-operation is expected, with a focus on training, personnel capacity and possible joint exercises.

Mr Albanese said the two nations were the ‘greatest of friends’ and underlined their collective importance to one another.

The Prime Minister and Mr Marape said decisions taken by one country affected the security of the other, and pledged more regular sharing of information on threats and strategic challenges. Speaking after one-on-one talks and a meeting with senior ministers, Mr Marape, PNG’s Prime Minister since 2019, denied China was a factor in the new agreement.

He did not rule out any formal agreement with Beijing, or new Chinese-backed projects in PNG.

“Those were not issues before us, in as far as our discussions were concerned,” he said.

“The PNG-China relationship remains the PNG-China relationship. At no instance was China or any other nation brought into the picture.

“Our relationship with Australia is particularly unique. Every other nation understands this.”

Australian officials consider PNG a gap in the suite of regional security partnerships and are being pushed by Mr Albanese to quickly finalise a deal, taking advantage of a workable political window in both countries this year.

A second joint statement by the two leaders highlighted the need for more effective law and order capacity in PNG, including a strong justice and police system.

Currently, Australia supports the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary through a $144m grant.

Australia will also work to boost PNG’s participation in Pacific labour mobility schemes, as Mr Marape seeks to have as many as 8000 of his citizens working across the Torres Strait.

Ministers in Canberra and Port Moresby will be tasked with finding ways to speed up labour sharing opportunities, and reciprocal work and holiday visa ­arrangements will be put in place from July 1 this year.

The deal will enable both countries to protect and enhance their independence, sovereignty and resilience, according to a combined statement.

Mr Albanese became the first foreign leader to address the PNG parliament on Thursday, describing the two countries as “the greatest of friends”.

PNG is also the largest recipient of Australian aid, worth $602m in 2022-23, and making up more than 30 per cent of Australian aid to the Pacific region.

He called on Australian business to boost investments in PNG. “We want you to invest here, in your interests, but also in the interests of lifting the living standards of people in PNG,” he said.

Mr Marape praised his Australian counterpart’s comments on economic development.

“There are more Australian investors here in this country than anywhere else on the face of the planet. He is not wasting time,” Mr Marape said.

Mr Albanese said he wanted to see a PNG-based, Pacific Islander team compete in the National Rugby League competition.

After a state dinner on Thursday, the Prime Minister was due to fly to Wewak on Friday morning to visit the gravesite of PNG founding father Michael Somare.