Vanuatu denies it is about to sign a security deal with China as Australia works to ink its own pact
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-21/vanuatu-denies-china-security-deal-imminent/106589412
Vanuatu denies it is about to sign a security deal with China as Australia works to ink its own pact
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-21/vanuatu-denies-china-security-deal-imminent/106589412
4 Comments
Expect to hear more about China in the context of the Pacific Islands in the future. A new cold war has been brewing between The West and China (and North Korea) and it will primarily play out in the South China Sea.
At least in New Zealand, a lot of citizens don’t understand why we give so much in donations to the Pacific Island nations, not realising it is done for strategic military reasons and not out of benevolence. As a result, we’ve been really slacking in that department and those very same countries are now being presented with an alternative option.
And a part of that equation is asking what sovereignty means and whether or not they feel they are sovereign nations on equal footing with Australia or New Zealand or merely strategic military outposts and nothing more. Which is why the Solomon Islands flipped and the Cook Islands tried to flip.
Hang on? Isn’t Vanuatu predicted to be underwater in the next 20yrs?
Australia might be more secure if it inks a deal with China and ASEAN too
I respect the Pacific islanders for trying the hustle the most cash out of both us and China, but they shouldn’t feel upset when everyone drops them at the end of this whole affair. Well, at least the Chinese won’t pretend they’re not bribing them, so maybe that is better for everyone.