Australia has long been a major political player in much of the south and west Pacific, but has lost ground with China delivering massive investmentWithout mentioning China by name, Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed common values and said he would expand diplomatic footprint<\/b>
\nWith an eye on China\u2019s growing role in the Pacific, Australia on Thursday announced A$3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in financial enticements to boost its presence in the region, accompanied by a series of security and political initiatives.
Beijing is piling investment into the Pacific, sending ever more fishing vessels deeper into its waters and reportedly mulling the construction of a military base on Vanuatu. Faced with this increasing Chinese influence, Prime Minister Scott Morrison vowed to take Australia\u2019s engagement \u201cto a new level\u201d.
\u201cWe want to work with our Pacific Islands partners to build a Pacific region that is secure strategically, stable economically and sovereign politically,\u201d Morrison said while preparing for a major Asian-Pacific summit in Port Moresby next week.
He underscored a series of security, economic and diplomatic initiatives, including the donation of patrol boats and the development of a joint military base in Papua New Guinea.
The centrepiece however is cold hard cash \u2013 much sought after by poverty-hit countries in the region \u2013 with Morrison announcing a A$2 billion fund \u201cto significantly boost Australia\u2019s support for infrastructure development in Pacific countries and Timor-Leste [East Timor]\u201d.
He also announced a further A$1 billion for export financing to support investments in the region.
Morrison\u2019s government has been preoccupied by domestic infighting and has diverged politically from Pacific Island nations threatened by rising waters, by questioning climate change.
Australia has long been a major political player in much of the south and west Pacific, but has lost ground with China ploughing massive investment into the region as part of its \u201cBelt and Road Initiative\u201d.
Although the Pacific islands are small in size, and a less vital waterway for trade than the contested South China Sea, their exclusive economic zones make up a massive proportion of the world\u2019s maritime assets.
And the region has become increasingly important as Beijing has signalled its intent to develop a \u201cBlue Water\u201d navy that can project Chinese power far beyond its coastal waters.
The Chinese authorities have also been keen to harness natural resources from hardwood to nickel and have \u2013 with notable success \u2013 tried to entice countries in the region to drop recognition of Taiwan, isolating its cross-strait foe.
The number of Chinese fishing vessels operating in the tuna-rich waters of the Pacific has also increased from 244 in 2010 to over 600, according to data from Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.
Without mentioning China by name, Morrison \u2013 whose foreign minister is in Beijing this week \u2013 hailed common values with island nations and said he would expand Australia\u2019s diplomatic footprint to \u201cevery member country of the Pacific Islands Forum\u201d.
Australian media reported that Morrison will continue his charm offensive at the Asia-Pacific summit in Port Moresby, where he will host leaders for a barbecue.
He will have competition from Xi Jinping, who is also expected to meet a host of regional leaders when he attends the summit. US president Donald Trump will not attend, sending Vice-President Mike Pence in his stead.<\/p>\n