PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Papua New Guinea is carefully considering a Chinese offer to assist its police force following recent riots, but the government indicates a preference for maintaining ties with ‘traditional’ security allies, including Australia and the United States.
China proposed training and equipping Papua New Guinea’s policing sector last year, a move now under scrutiny to avoid duplicating or compromising existing agreements with longstanding security partners.
The decision reflects Papua New Guinea’s commitment to preserving relationships with traditional allies while navigating complex security dynamics in the South Pacific.
The Port Moresby riots erupted after an over-stretched police force went on strike due to a payroll error. The government later accused “rogue” police of exacerbating the unrest. Opposition figures expressed concern about potential secrecy in any security pact with China, emphasizing Papua New Guinea’s historical alignment with Australia for domestic and regional security.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, reaffirmed his country’s status as the “security partner of choice” for Papua New Guinea, emphasizing the familial relationship between the two nations. The security deal between Australia and Papua New Guinea, signed in December, includes provisions for additional police training.
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister is expected to visit Australia in February, providing an opportunity for further discussions on security cooperation. The geopolitical context involves efforts by the United States and its Pacific allies to counter China’s expanding influence in the region, highlighted by Beijing’s secretive security pact with Solomon Islands in 2022. The delicate balancing act underscores the complex geopolitical landscape in the South Pacific.
