Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs (FM) Penny Wong began a trip to Samoa and Tonga yesterday to “renew and strengthen” Australia’s ties with Pacific island nations after they rejected China’s regionwide economic and security deal.
Before her departure, Wong said in an official press release that she looks forward to listening to Samoan and Tongan leaders about how best to utilise Australia’s “new energy and resources” it is bringing to the Pacific.
Wong stated, “We understand that we need to work together like never before, for our peoples and for generations to come.”
Additionally, she said Australia wants to “uniquely” contribute to building a more resilient Pacific family by extending social and economic opportunities, including development and infrastructure support, post-pandemic recovery, health, Pacific labour programs and permanent migration.
The FM further committed to increasing contributions to regional security, noting that the responsibility of securing the Pacific lies with the entire Pacific family, of which Australia is a member. “We will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Pacific family in addressing the existential threat of climate change. And we will deepen cultural and sporting ties,” declared the Australian official.
The message I want to share with our friends in Samoa and Tonga is how deeply the new Australian Government values being part of our Pacific Family.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) June 1, 2022
As I said during my visit to Fiji last week, we will listen and we will work with you to make our Pacific Family even stronger. pic.twitter.com/TefE5bPLGQ
Upon arriving in Samoa on Wednesday, Wong met the Samoan head of state Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II and Prime Minister (PM) Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. In a joint press conference, she announced a new eight-year partnership to address human development and a new maritime patrol boat for the country.
Speaking from the Samoan capital of Apia, Wong said “the human development” and “social inclusion partnership” would help address Samoa’s most critical challenges. She also announced Australia would provide Samoa with a Guardian-glass patrol boat next year to prop up the country’s maritime surveillance capacities. Mata’afa welcomed the announcement, saying it would be critical to protecting the island nation’s maritime security.
On climate change, the top diplomat reiterated Australia’s commitment to reducing emissions and reaffirmed the new government’s commitment to more decisive climate action.
Penny Wong has announced a new 8-year partnership with Samoa 🇼🇸 focused on addressing "human development and social inclusion challenges". Not much detail beyond that... she also says the new Aus gov is committed to "taking real action" on climate change.
— Marian Faa (@marianfaa) June 2, 2022
After Samoa, Wong is scheduled to travel to Tonga, where she will meet PM Hu’akavameiliku and Foreign Minister Fekitamoeloa ‘Utoikamanu. The two sides are likely to discuss Australia’s role in the international response to the volcanic eruption and tsunami that rocked the island nation in January.
Wong’s second visit to the Pacific comes just nine days after she was appointed the country’s FM. Last week, Wong visited Fiji to reiterate Australia’s renewed support for the Pacific.
Wong’s visit to the Pacific comes amid Chinese FM Wang Yi’s Pacific tour, during which he has signed dozens of bilateral agreements with Pacific nations, including the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, and Samoa.
Wang held discussions on police training, climate change, and pandemic recovery with Samoan leaders on the weekend and signed an agreement for “greater collaboration.”
In Tonga, Wang committed Chinese resources to disaster management, police laboratory, and customs inspection equipment. While in the country, he also dismissed the West’s claims that China seeks to increase its military presence in the Pacific region.
Contrary to his claims, however, a leaked draft document sent to Pacific nations prior to Wang’s tour outlines China’s ‘Common Development Vision’ and five-year action plan for the Pacific nations, which focuses on “strengthening exchanges and cooperation in the fields of traditional and non-traditional security.”
Wang Yi had, with much confidence, come to Fiji with a pre-drafted deal, the contents of which were leaked, for the Pacific island nations to sign. He even urged the nations to not be “anxious” or “nervous” and assured them that China would be a “good brother” to them.
— Shubhangi Sharma (@ItsShubhangi) June 1, 2022
To this end, it states, “China will hold intermediate and high-level police training for Pacific Island Countries through bilateral and multilateral means.”
However, Pacific leaders have rejected China’s region-wide policing and security deals due to a lack of consultation and consensus.
After Fiji, Wang held discussions in Vanuatu on Wednesday that are yet to be made public. China reportedly approached Vanuatu in 2018 to construct a military base. He is scheduled to visit Australia’s closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea, on Thursday.