Those pushing for a China reset for Australia have no idea what they are doing:
China is pursuing a sweeping regional economic security deal with Pacific nations that would dramatically expand its influence and reach into those countries, in a pact that has western countries and some Pacific leaders deeply worried.
The wide-ranging deal lays out China’s vision for a much closer relationship with the Pacific, especially on security matters, with China proposing it would be involved in training police, cybersecurity, sensitive marine mapping and gaining greater access to natural resources.
A draft of the deal, written in a similar style to the controversial bilateral security deal signed by Solomon Islands and China last month, and a five-year action plan, both of which have been obtained by the Guardian, cover a huge range of issues, including trade, financing and investment, tourism, public health and Covid-19 support, establishing Chinese language and cultural exchanges, training and scholarships, as well disaster prevention and relief.
This is a clear push to destabilise every democracy in the Pacific by enmeshing them economically with China and giving rise to thoroughly bribed tin-pot dictators supported by Chinese security forces across the region.
It is the Solomons model writ large. A silent invasion of Australia’s backyard that will politically (if not militarily) blockade ANZUS, displace Australia as the economic and security partner of choice and dramatically accelerate the end of democracy across the former US protectorate.
It is China’s bold attempt to quietly substitute the institutions of the liberal order with those of its own autocratic state. A thousand Pacific mini-mes implicitly shifting the region into China’s hegemonic illiberal order.
This is a catastrophe for Australia if it gets up.
China is doing exactly what Australia and US should have done the moment the Solomons deal was discovered eight months ago. A major diplomatic push across the region to define the new normatives of a liberal Pacific supported by Western muscle. Instead, it’s been turned completely on its head.
Not to worry, we’re sending The Pennmeister:
“China has made its intentions clear [but] so too are the intentions of the new Australian government,” Wong said in a statement.
“We want to help build a stronger Pacific family. We want to bring new energy and more resources to the Pacific. And we want to make a uniquely Australian contribution including through our Pacific labour programs and new permanent migration opportunities.”
How horribly unconvincing, freshly returned from offering the hand of friendship to Beijing if it removes a few irrelevant trade sanctions. Thus making clear to the Pacific states that taking the Chinese bribe is all that really matters.
Australia and the US liberal empire in the South Pacific are fighting for their lives and they are losing.
