‘Important’ move Australia must make as China is ‘picking off individuals’ in the Pacific

A former senior diplomat says China’s push for influence in the Pacific region is about more than just military bases — it’s a contest of values — and it’s important Australia opposes Chinese influence in the region.

China signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands earlier this year, and Beijing is pursuing security, policing and communications deals with as many as nine other Pacific Island nations.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has today flown to Fiji, in an early sign of the Albanese government’s intention to reinforce ties in the region.

Ian Kemish, who served as Australia’s High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea between 2010 and 2013, says China’s Solomon Islands deal came about after Beijing successfully “developed a relationship” with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.

He says while there are some other “figures across the region who are vulnerable to this kind of approach”, nations and regions are less susceptible.

“It’s about picking off individuals,” Mr Kemish told Neil Mitchell.

The former diplomat says China is only just “starting to get their act together” in the Pacific, and we should be wary.

“I think it’s less about naval bases and those sorts of issues,” he said. “It’s more about this: this is a contest of values in a region that matters to us.

“There is a fundamental competition underway on the information waves, in the education sector, between a set of values that we represent and a set of values that China represents.

“The values that China represents are not good for this region, and it’s important that we oppose it.”

Press PLAY to hear what Mr Kemish thinks of China’s activities in the Pacific