Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has departed Sydney for Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, but Chinese influence is already derailing his plans to increase co-operation with the region.
Australia and Vanuatu were due to sign a $500 million Nakamal Agreement centring on climate change and security projects over the next decade.
But a deal is unlikely to be done this week, the PM admitted to ABC Radio on Tuesday morning.
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“I wouldn’t expect that it will be signed today but what we will do is to progress it today to have that conversation. I look forward to doing it,” Albanese said.
“What I’ll say is what’s in the draft agreement, which is a protection of sovereignty but also a recognition of, as we will be arguing at the Pacific Islands Forum as well, that the security of our Pacific family needs to be undertaken within the Pacific family.
“I await the good faith discussions that take place today, but we have a good relationship. I have a good relationship with the prime minister.
“Vanuatu politics can be very complex ... so, I look forward to a constructive discussion and then travelling on to the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum. And I’ll take Prime Minister Napat with me.”
7NEWS understands Chinese diplomats have been pressuring Vanuatu’s politicians not to sign the deal.
Some of Vanuatu’s politicians fear signing the agreement would prevent them undertaking infrastructure projects funded by Beijing in the future.
The tensions between Australia and China are also on display in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands.
The city is hosting the 54th Pacific Islands Forum this week. Canberra has sent 61 police vehicles for the summit, outdoing China which has donated 40 vehicles.
The two key objectives of Albanese’s trip are to get support from Pacific leaders for Australia’s bid to host the COP 31 climate conference in Adelaide, and to remain as the number one security partner in the region.
If the prime minister can land these objectives his trip will be seen as a success.
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