China's new target in the battle to control the Pacific | 60 Minutes Australia

at its closest point the distance between

australia

and the solomon islands is just under 2,000 kilometers being so close here's why canberra is so concerned about the agreements the small

pacific

nation is signing with

china

means the idea will ever The inconceivable sight of a Chinese military base being built right on our doorstep is now a reality, but if you think this worries you, consider that Beijing is also closing in on Papua New Guinea, a country of much greater strategic importance and which at its closest p g is less than five kilometers from us at first light.

By day the Vermont War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea seems like a contradiction, the largest in the Pacific, it is a place of stunning beauty and unimaginable sadness. Meticulously maintained are the graves of more than 3,000 Australian soldiers who gave their lives in one of the most arduous times of the Second World War, what is the predominant feeling for you when you come here? Well, I get emotional, I think about how my grandfather served in that war. He may have met some of these men here for Gary Giufa, the governor of the province he hosts. the kokoda track this is a place full of solidarity and sacrifice, it symbolizes a time when our people came together, papua new guinea and

australia

ns, to take a common course and fight for what they felt was right, do you still feel that bond that resonates today between australia? and p g oh yes, Papua New Guinea has such a strong connection with Australia that I feel these connections will never be broken at this time, although old ties are being tested by a new struggle for dominance in the Pacific, on the one hand , and an increasingly belligerent China, on the other.

Struggling to catch up with the United States and its allies caught in the middle are the Pacific island nations with some difficult decisions ahead. Is a third world war looming, for example? We're going to have to choose is that what's around the corner tonight the growing danger on our doorstep is a bit like whacking a mole and sooner or later they're going to get a foothold how China is buying influence in the Pacific Are you worried that China has an ulterior motive here? We all feel they have an ulterior motive, we all feel that the high-stakes game that could restore world order I think freedom is worth fighting for, but you believe freedom is threatened.

I know how far our closest neighbors are willing to go. Can you give us a wrought iron warranty? there will never be a chinese naval base with chinese military base in your country if you are doing power plays in the

pacific

then papua new guinea is the jewel in the crown by far the largest economy the largest landmass the population bigger, but what makes it? So significant is its strategic location that it is perfect just 100 kilometers from mainland Australia on one side and the gateway to Asia on the other, suddenly this normally tranquil part of the world has found itself at the center of a

battle

for supremacy of the superpowers. heard over and over again in papua new guinea is a friend of all enemies of none is a way of saying that when it comes to investment all bets are on the table and that's how peter kangamar likes it do you have a preferred business partner at the moment? we come from a culture in which we marry three or four wives we build a path from violence peter is project director and chief spruiker has a bold new vision for papua new guinea it catches my attention but there are fighter jets here yes, that's when we're modeling this.

We're thinking about the future. It is the type of development that could pose significant dangers to Australia. It is called Kokori Ehoo special economic zone. It's an ambitious $8 billion plan to create a futuristic industrial city in pristine jungle not far from Cape York. an airport, yes, a huge industrial complex, a manufacturing headquarters, a naval base, yes, a military base, yes, I mean, this is a big dream, yes, but do you think it will be reality very soon, it will be reality in the next 15 years, so we have to call. ripping off pieces from now on and that's what we're doing now China has already invested more than $30 million in the project and is keen to get more involved as it looks to establish a military foothold near Australia, it's no wonder the project has increased. alarm bells are ringing, I guess this gets complicated because your development contains a military base and a naval base.

Yes, that is a precarious position to be in if you are considering whether to go with China or Australia, we are already receiving support from China in the military and they have already opened the door, you know, if they increase the amount of support they are giving in that space in the military space, then they could pick up those two, those two bases, so yeah, that's why Australia has left China as the driver. Along the way and I don't know what's going to happen, what's your message to Australia? If Australia wants to have a say in this, today is the time to talk.

Many Australians are quite concerned about the growing Chinese presence in their country. Do you understand their concerns? I might appreciate your concern, but we know which borders to protect and which not to cross. It's election time in Papua New Guinea and Prime Minister James Murape has invited us to join him on a trip back to his hometown of Tari in the heart of the highlands in PNG. Election campaigning can be an unpredictable business, but today the crowd is in good spirits as much of papua new guinea tari is very poor here geopolitical maneuvering is almost the last thing on anyone's mind, have you seen the I have started plans for Kokori.

I am referring to the proposal for a special economic zone. Do you understand the concern in Australia when they see China funding a development like this and the idea is to build a naval base and build a military base? It can be planning. concept, but at the national level we have no thanks for the naval base and defenses that you are referring to, so can you guarantee that there will not be a military base that can correct who, if a military base is built in the Kikori area? it will be a defense force military base png it will not be a foreign military base would you allow China to build a military or naval base in your name, in our name, in our financing, maybe yes, but not a Chinese military base, but if it's Chinese technology and and Chinese construction is establishing a military base there, I mean, no, that's, uh, it can get into a pretty gray area that's not good for us.

What's really getting on Australian nerves, of course, is the recent revelation of a secret security deal drawn up by the neighbours. the solomon islands and

china

maybe pave the way for a military base to be built closer to brisbane, so brisbane is close to perth, but if the prime minister is worried about that he won't let on, you know, the solomon islands , the country neighboring yours, there is no potential for China to have a military base just a few hundred kilometers from their country. Does that worry you? I am not aware of that proposal. Well, I mean they signed an agreement that says they could have a military presence in the Solomon Islands.

I have no information about it. I have no information about this to be honest, really seriously, it is the most important story in the region, yes, and you are saying that you don't know it. I mean, are you just trying to be diplomatic? No, no, to be honest, I haven't seen it. I haven't looked at it with due respect some might suggest you're burying your head in the sand uh not necessarily not necessarily trying I do my best not to get involved in other nations' sovereign issues for the experts the agreement with the solomon islands is bad enough, but given its proximity to Australia, a Chinese military presence in PNG would be on another level of strategic threat entirely if the Pacific were a monopoly board, feels a bit like China seeing png as Mayfair, it's a good way to To say it, probably true, yes, I think if you look in the Pacific, I would actually want to have Papua New Guinea, since my Mayfair and Solomon Islands are my park lane, and I put all my hotels in those two purchased parts of the board for Claro , they already have Parklane and they want the set.

Yeah, they're pretty well positioned right now. If this is a monopoly game, you would say they have an advantage over the rest of the field. Veteran defense analyst Alan Dupont says China's intentions are very clear and it will take advantage of every opportunity it can. Their strategy is to bring the entire region, every single Pacific island country, into the Chinese world and make them dependent on China, and when there is dependency, then you're basically going to give the person you depend on pretty much what they want because You don't have too many options. There's an argument to say you know the United States, Australia, they're not exactly altruistic when they go and help in these smaller nations, so why shouldn't China be able to help and invest in developing nations as well?

He must remember that much of Chinese aid is loans that he must repay and not grant aid. It is not like us. We have built this irrigation system for you and delivered it to you, which we usually do in Australia. Chinese loans are sometimes quite restrictive and you have to pay them back, and then what happens is you get this stuck-in-debt diplomacy problem where smaller countries are recipients. of the Chinese loans can't pay them back, so the Chinese say okay you can't pay them back, so how about you give us some of your real estate instead of a debt for equity swap, that's the deal and of suddenly you discover that you have lost? your sovereignty and you have a little China somewhere in your country where the locals are not allowed debt trap diplomacy has already affected several countries, from Argentina to Zambia, Sri Lanka and Laos, but as you will see, it is far from be the unique. weapon in Beijing's growing arsenal given the broad designs of China's plan here, I believe Papua New Guinea and, frankly, all Indo-Pacific nations are at risk.

If anyone has

control

over the growing challenges in our region, it is retired Admiral Philip Davidson until April of last year, he was the commander of US forces in the Pacific. When you look at the situation in the Pacific right now, China is a threat. Well, they are certainly using all elements of their national power, economic power, diplomatic power and yes, military power to change the status. quo for the objectives of the communist party of china, so china comes in talking about a friendly game, but you don't think that's what it's about, they have the ambition by the middle of this century to displace the international order and replace it with their own and I think that you only have to look at the closed, authoritarian society that President Xi runs there to understand the threat he poses to the free peoples of the Indo-Pacific.

Admiral Davidson has watched with alarm as China's influence in the Pacific has grown exponentially. In step with the expansion of its military, last month with extraordinary fanfare, China launched its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, the most sophisticated to date and seen as a rival to the best of the United States, as well as a naval fleet. rapidly expanding. At the beginning of this century, just 22 years ago, it was just a few dozen ships, you know, the navy is now made up of hundreds of ships and they are introducing modern capabilities, long-range anti-ship ballistic missiles aboard those ships to the who are introducing nuclear energy. their submarines, hypersonic missiles and their rocket forces, it goes on and on and on, these are really profound changes in the last 20 years, when there was no overt threat from its neighbors.

How real do you think the potential for conflict with China is? I think in the nearer term, China would like to do this diplomatically and economically. I think that's why you're seeing such assertive moves across the Indo-Pacific, specifically in the Solomon Islands. I think it's a key concern for the United States and Australia, and it should. Australia remains Papua New Guinea's largest development partner, but there is no doubt that China is raising its profile here dramatically. in all the country. They sprout like bamboo shoots, but PNG Prime Minister James Marapi is keen to highlight his country's close ties to Australia.

It's a pretty impressive parliament, yeah, well, one of Australia's gifts to us in the early 80s and, again, it's a symbol of our democracy, it still represents the entire nation. has been going strong for 46 years, but given the efforts Beijing is making here, it is perhaps no surprise that the last major foreign dignitary to visit was Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in a failed attempt to force a broad trade and security pact with Pacific island nations. Great concern in Australia about this looming

battle

between the superpowers. Is there concern here?We are really inconsequential with what happens with the big guys and that is why, for me, at this moment, my first interest is to build my own country so that it is economically sustainable. countries, so that has been my focus.

It seems that money talks. China is important to us as much as Australia is very important to us. Critics say China's tactic is almost slow progress. If you look at the South China Sea, that will be it. offers fishing facilities and the next thing you know there are military bases there and the suggestion is that that is their plan for your region too. So far, no talks with China have moved into the space of a military relationship and you know, look in a broader space if there is anything. develops, then we will be worried, but at this moment I don't see any immediate need for concern in our region, but for some experts, making a bet both ways is a dangerous game, the problem, according to defense analyst Alan Dupont, is that even seemingly simple events can haveThe following uses is the fairly simple Chinese equation: investment equals influence, yes, I think it's a little bit more than that investment, obviously it allows you to influence anywhere, but China is also thinking from a military point of view if we establish a presence and a relationship. with a small Pacific island country maybe we could turn that into military capability too if you're building a road or a railway or a port or an airfield why not make it militarily capable, let's turn it into an airfield long enough to house a bomber, Let's have the port development capable of accepting warships, all you need to do is make it a little bigger and stronger and then you will have that capability now, you may not be able to use it initially, but it is there as an opportunity for you in the future. future.

Follow-up, so that's the Chinese approach and I think there's a long way to go on these things. You know, you look at these investments. I guess in isolation as a development project. Here is another poor facility being built there on its own. I guess they seem fine. but do you think it adds to a much bigger picture, yes, that's why we have a contest and it's very important and we need to make sure we don't lose it, so how do we make sure we stay ahead? There is a sense of struggle in the game, a sense of urgency to make sure you get ahead of this problem before things get out of hand.

I wouldn't describe it as struggle, I would describe it as urgency. We have come to Manus Island to see. an australian victory in the competition for influence in papua new guinea a place infamous for being the site of australia's offshore detention center this tranquil piece of paradise is one of the most important strategic prizes in the entire pacific the reason is that The Lombram naval base was the springboard for the Allies to repel Japan in World War II, which is why at the top that port was so important to the Americans in Pearl Harbor in Australia, a vital naval base in the Pacific is the Manus Island in the Admiralty group that

control

s access to Papua and New Guinea.

At its peak, the base housed 37,000 military personnel, making Manus one of the most important staging posts of the Second World War. Defense analyst Alan Dupont believes the strategically located deep harbor here is as important now as it was then, if you have a military presence there, you can project power from Munos Island not only into the South Pacific but also into the South China Sea. . Also, if you wanted to attack Australia, it would be the perfect place to attack Australia. If you just turn it around, we're talking about strategy here, but as soon as people start listening, wait, what I want to say is that I'm sorry for attacking Australia, it's something that's on the line for years to come if China believes Australia will join. with the united states and japan to support taiwan in a war they feel they must win, they will

target

australia militarily right now the problem for china right now is that most of their missiles don't have the range to reach mainland australia, but if you get a base on a manus island for example and you can put some of your missiles there, that's a different proposition, suddenly all of Australia is within range and all our military installations and so on, a few years ago when China looking to invest in lombum australia recognized the danger facing beijing with a $175 million deal to upgrade the base, a deal that allows australian and american warships to dock here.

China may have lost the Lombard base, but it is gaining a foothold elsewhere on Manus Island, 80km along the coast from here Chinese contractors are starting work on a new fishing operation complete with a 140-dock wharf. meters long. They have also renovated the nearby airport by installing a longer runway with military capacity. The worry is that one day seemingly innocent projects will be used for more sinister purposes, and that's why in the battle for influence does every small victory count? Monus Island seems like the perfect case study of how this plays out in the Pacific, because Australia and the United States fight over control of that naval base, but then China moves in here and there.

It's a bit like whacking a mole, so we might win there in Lombram, but then the Chinese turn up somewhere else in Suva, Kiribati or the Solomon Islands and sooner or later they will get a foothold in what has become abundant . What is clear is that Australia's security may well depend on the leaders of some of the smallest and most impoverished nations on the planet. I believe we face the most challenging strategic circumstances since World War II. How we respond to that is the test of leadership for Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong It has been a frenetic first few weeks on the job, zigzagging across the Pacific in a calming diplomatic dance.

It's been a whirlwind couple of months for you, yes, it was quite a lot to do. I thought it was really important. that we come out with the energy and momentum of a new government, try to make the best of it and make sure we talk and listen to the region, it's important for Australia to do that, so what's the tone that you I know you're wrong in these countries and you say "Okay, well, I think the first argument is that we are a family, you know we are part of the Pacific family, we are in the region, uh, and the argument is your security and your future." prosperity is tied to ours, every analyst will tell you that China doesn't exactly follow the rules on many of these issues, how can you beat someone who doesn't follow the rules?

Well, my job as Australia's foreign minister is to try to use the tools we have to maximize Australia's influence and engagement in the region. Charm offensive. It's not just charm. I think it is being authentic and knowing that I believe that by demonstrating to the nations of the region we understand that our security. Do you know that it is united and no one can do it alone? The nations of small and medium powers know that we have to work together and we have to work together not only against but for and for what we are working for peace, security, prosperity in this battle. for influence papua new guinea prime minister james murape says his country can be trusted to make the right decisions it's good to have two countries fighting for your affections, isn't it?

No, we have been dealing with both countries since 1975, you know there is always room for both nations without compromising our fundamental principles as our country. Can you give a wrought iron warranty? There will never be a Chinese military base. A Chinese naval base in your country. They will never be the Solomon Islands. They made similar commitments not long ago. and history shows how that turned out, let's hope papua new guinea will be truer to her word in the years to come, as australia's ties in the pacific are tested like never before. Could you imagine that Papua New Guinea would find itself at the center of the biggest geopolitical battle? of our time, well I'm certainly concerned, you know, I personally feel that China is just moving around trying to set up deals to feed their enormous appetite for growth, that's what they're doing, but the way they're doing it is probably Which is of great concern to many nations, including us.

Man, you're very concerned about what's happening where we are because we want to make sure that we don't get caught in the middle of a conflict that seems to be emerging and looming. You don't know anyone. wants to be in the conflict zone, the worst case scenario is a worry for all of us, but for Gary Giufa, the governor of Oro province, those shared ties between Australia and its closest neighbor still count for a lot, that connection always It will remain, but it can be strengthened. or weaker and it all depends on how we handle our relationship in the future all relationships are tested over time absolutely there is no such thing as a perfect relationship you know some break up some break up sometimes bitter divorces happen but i don't think this would happen with png in australia you know we will be together for a long time there will be ups and downs but png in australia is firmly connected hello i'm tom steinfert thanks for watching 60

minutes

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