AUKUS accord worries the Chinese foreign minister while he is in Papua New Guinea.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticised the AUKUS trilateral defence partnership between the US, UK and Australia, saying the Pacific should not become an arena for major power competition.
During a joint press conference with his Papua New Guinean counterpart Justin Tkatchenko, Wang expressed concerns over the AUKUS agreement during his visit to Papua New Guinea, according to China’s Foreign Ministry.
He emphasised that the Pacific “should not be a playground for major powers,” raising objections to the US, UK and Australia introducing nuclear submarine development in the region.
He contended that this action goes against the goals of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty of 1985, also known as the Treaty of Rarotonga.
Wang reaffirmed China’s opposition to bloc-to-bloc conflict in the area, emphasizing that this kind of thinking is out of step with the requirements and past growth patterns of the Pacific region.
Additionally, he emphasized China’s dedication to “South-South cooperation,” which is predicated on developing nations’ solidarity rather than geopolitical agendas or interests.
Relationships with Pacific island countries
Beijing has been fortifying its connections with Pacific island countries to gain foothold in the region in reaction to initiatives to balance China’s economic dominance in the Pacific, such as through the QUAD and AUKUS alliances.
This includes a contentious security agreement that was signed in 2022 with the Solomon Islands, which has sparked worries about Chinese warships moored in the islands’ ports and the permission given to Chinese security officers to uphold social order and safeguard people’s lives, property, and Chinese-funded projects.
According to critics, the accord amounts to a “security pact,” permitting China to use its armed forces to defend its people and projects in the southern Pacific Ocean.
SOURCE: TRTWORLD
