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The government of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promised to provide Covid-19 to neighboring countries by 2021. This is part of a $ 500 million support package aimed at reaching the goal of vaccinating the entire region. .
In addition, Australia recently signed an agreement with Fiji, allowing defense personnel from the two countries to participate in joint exchange and deployment activities, as well as allowing the defense forces of the two sides to enforce it. jurisdiction of others.
Lowy Institute expert Jonathan Pryke (Australia) told Bloomberg that China did not do much to bring Covid-19 related support to the region. Australia, on the other hand, has shown that it does not forget the Pacific islands when the crisis hits.
The administration of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is committed to providing the Covid-19 vaccine to neighboring countries by 2021. Photo: Reuters
Over the past decade, Chinese influence on the Pacific islands has caused concern in Australia and the United States.
Australian and US diplomats and intelligence officials fear that Beijing’s ultimate goal is to establish a naval base in the area, thus altering its military strategies.
The aforementioned war of influence took place amid growing tensions between Australia and China. Beijing imposed trade sanctions against Canberra in response to Prime Minister Morrison’s decision to seek an independent investigation into the origin of the Covid-19 virus.
It is the Covid-19 outbreak that is giving Australia an advantage at home. Pacific island nations have been forced to say no to outside flights and yachts to prevent the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, Chinese workers involved in the Belt and Road (BRI) projects are forced to return home. Beijing also reduced the number of diplomats on ten Pacific islands.
In Papua New Guinea, major infrastructure projects funded by Beijing stalled after Chinese workers left.
Of course, China is not standing still. The country has appointed ambassadors to two countries that cut ties with Taiwan and moved to recognize Beijing in 2019, including the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
China’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that Beijing shares medical experiences and supplies medical supplies to countries during the epidemic. Furthermore, according to Beijing, BRI’s projects are still “making steady progress.”
China recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Papua New Guinea on the construction of a seafood processing complex on Daru Island, just 200 km from mainland Australia. This agreement could have complex geopolitical implications in the region.
Some experts note that the Covid-19 epidemic will not prevent China from continuing its strategy of increasing influence in the South Pacific. So under Joe Biden, the United States had the opportunity to let countries know who they should choose to shake hands with.
Lawmakers in Washington and Canberra have long advised developing countries not to borrow money from China on the grounds that Beijing can use its debts as geopolitical lever.
China has spent at least $ 1.7 billion on grants and loans to Pacific island nations over the past decade, according to data from the Lowy Institute. Meanwhile, Australia announced in 2018 a $ 2 billion infrastructure fund for the region.
Pryke predicts that recovery efforts after a pandemic will intensify geopolitical competition in the Pacific.
So China will realize that the impact of Covid-19 leaves countries vulnerable and needs external aid and loans. That is an opportunity for Beijing to continue promoting its interests.
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