Australia fears China's influence in the South Pacific
(Baonghean.vn) - On April 10, Australia's Fairfax Media news agency, citing anonymous sources, reported that China has approached Vanuatu with the aim of establishing a permanent military presence on this small Pacific island, a plan that is likely to cause regional tensions.
No formal proposal has been made, but preliminary discussions have been held about setting up a full-fledged military base in Vanuatu, the news agency said. The prospect of a Chinese military outpost so close to Australia has also been discussed at the highest levels in Canberra and Washington.
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| Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Photo: AP |
Fairfax Media reported that preliminary discussions included an initial access agreement, under which Chinese naval vessels would be allowed to dock for maintenance, refuelling and replenishment, which would lead to the construction of a full-fledged military base.
On the same day, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said she had been reassured by Vanuatu officials that there had been no formal proposal from Beijing, but she decided not to say whether any informal discussions had taken place.
“The Vanuatu government has said there is no such proposal, but the reality is that China is making infrastructure investments all over the world. But I still believe that Australia is Vanuatu’s strategic partner of choice,” Foreign Minister Bishop told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
For its part, a spokesman for Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has not commented on the above information. Neither the Vanuatu High Commission in Canberra nor the Chinese Embassy in Canberra has commented.
If the plan materializes, it would mark a major step forward for China's military expansion, far beyond its controversial activities in Asia, particularly in the South China Sea, where Beijing has built artificial islands on reefs and built ports and airstrips.
Several countries have accused China in recent months of seeking to “buy” influence in the South Pacific through international aid, raising concerns that Australia’s long-standing influence in the region is waning.
China inaugurated its first overseas military base in August last year in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa. This is China's first overseas naval base, but Beijing describes it as a logistics facility./.