Page 16 - IB MAR 2019

Politics

retains a strong com-
mitment to its long-
standing policy of non-
alignment. During his
visit to Australia in
February, Vanuatu
Foreign Minister Ralph
Regenvanu stressed
that his country would
maintain partnerships
with both China and
Australia, despite Can-
berra’s concern over
growing Chinese influ-
ence in the region.
“We are happy to
enter into a security
agreement with Aus-
tralia,” Regenvanu
said. “We made it clear
it won’t be an exclusive
agreement, and we
can enter into similar
security agreements
with other partners as
we choose. We have
Welcome partner .... Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu (right) welcomes Scott Morrison to Port Vila Photo: AAP these existing relation-
ships and we would
Partner of choice? not want to cut them off by having to just rely on Australia.
We would like all our partners to contribute in some way to our
needs in this area.”
Australia and Vanuatu discuss Frequent flyers

In January, US Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats issued
security treaty the U.S. intelligence community’s Worldwide Threat Assessment.
The annual intelligence analysis stated: “China is currying favour
with numerous Pacific Island nations through bribery, infrastruc-
ture investment and diplomatic engagement.”
Much as Canberra denies that a policy of strategic denial is
driving its renewed engagement with Forum Island Countries,
Morrison’s recent visit to Vanuatu and Fiji was driven by con-
cern over China’s growing partnership with island neighbours.
Canberra and Wellington are eager to show the Trump adminis-
By Nic Maclellan
tration that they are active in a region Morrison has described,
AUSTRALIA and Vanuatu are slowly moving towards a bilat- in typically patronising Australian language, as “our patch” and
eral security treaty after a series of meetings between the Prime “our backyard.”
Ministers and Foreign Ministers of both countries. Relations with Vanuatu have much improved since last year,
Welcoming his counterpart Scott Morrison to Port Vila in Janu- when Australia’s then-Minister for International Development
ary, Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas stated: Concetta Fierravanti-Wells condemned Chinese aid projects in
“The Australian Government continues to remain an important Vanuatu and the Sydney Morning Herald published a series of
partner in police cooperation and security, both at the national articles about a purported Chinese military base in Luganville
and regional level.” (claims quickly denied by Prime Minister Salwai and Foreign
But the nuance is significant. Australia is ‘an’ important part- Minister Regenvanu).
ner, not ‘the’ important partner, despite Morrison’s pledge “to The furore raised hackles on both sides, leading to a series
reinforce Australia as Vanuatu’s economic, development and of visits to reset the relationship. In June 2018, Prime Minister
security partner of choice.” Salwai made an official visit to Canberra and then met informally
Before leaving for Port Vila, Morrison stressed that the first— with Morrison on the sidelines of the APEC meeting in Port Mo-
ever bilateral visit by an Australian Prime Minister was part of resby in November. Morrison’s unprecedented bilateral visit in
his government’s renewed focus on the Pacific: “It’s part of our January allowed Canberra to discuss a range of proposals, from
refocusing of our international efforts on our own region, in our a bilateral security treaty to increased labour mobility, trade and
own backyard and making sure we can make the biggest pos- telecommunications links.
sible difference.” Morrison was accompanied by Senator Anne Ruston, Assistant
Despite the positive dialogue over bilateral relations, trade, Minister for International Development and the Pacific as well
policing and security, it’s clear that the government of Vanuatu as Nick Warner, director-general of the newly created Office of

16 Islands Business, March 2019