Australia-Papua New Guinea defence pact unlikely to shift Pacific power balance

On 6 October, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) signed a defence pact in Canberra, pledging mutual assistance if either is attacked, and allowing PNG citizens to apply to join the Australian military. Earlier, Australia failed to reach a similar deal with Vanuatu, whose prime minister feared it could affect investment from other countries, seen as a reference to China. NTU’s Assoc Prof Dylan Loh said the pact is, in the short term, Australia’s response to China’s growing influence and its own fears of losing ground. However, he noted it is too early to tell what long-term impact the pact will have, as alliances between states are constantly shifting, and sometimes rapidly.

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