Australia’s Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, said on Thursday that the country will help Papua New Guinea develop a navy base and train police.
The move is Canberra latest action to protect its interests in the Pacific, in the face of a more assertive China.
Australia has for decades enjoyed largely unrivalled influence in the Pacific but China has in recent years turned its attention to a region blessed with abundant natural resources.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) said this year China was interested in funding the re-development of a navy base on Manus Island, an offer that diplomatic sources said worried Australia and its Western allies. Morrison said in a speech in Sydney, Australia would fund the project.
“I will formally commit to a joint initiative to develop the base on Manus Island,” Morrison said.
PNG’s navy is made up largely of patrol boats, mostly donated by Australia, and landing craft.
Australia’s navy would make visits to the new base, Morrison and PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, said in a statement.
They did not disclose the cost of the project. Australia has in the past used its aid budget to fund similar security projects in the region.
Australia said this year it will use part of a record allocation of aid for PNG to lay an undersea internet cable, assistance aimed at shutting out Chinese telecom giant, Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, amid national security concerns.
