Quote:The Solomon Islands Opposition Leader claims he warned Australian officials last year that China was negotiating a military pact which could see a base established on the strategically located Pacific nation.
Quote:Former Army intelligence officer and University of New South Wales Professor, Clinton Fernandes, says China is making strong headway in Papua New Guinea just like it has in Solomon Islands.Solomon Islands politician 'extremely disappointed' Australia ignored warnings of China military deal, abc.net.au
"The next item on the agenda is the Daru Island area off Papua New Guinea which is going to have a Chinese presence and before too long a pro-China party will win the national elections in Papua New Guinea," he said.
Professor Fernandes said the same factors are in play in Papua New Guinea as in Solomon Islands, where Australian foreign aid is seen as not effective in countering China.
"We also interfere in their politics — when the Solomon Islands wanted to build an undersea internet cable between themselves and Sydney — we insisted which company would get that contract," he said.
"The current Prime Minister of Solomon Islands hasn't forgotten that episode and the same dynamic is in play in Papua New Guinea, when a large part of the aid budget actually comes back in salaries to foreign consultants".
The problem is that Australia has been happy to bully the small island states in our neighbourhood in the same way that China bullies us. Let's not forget the way they pleaded with Australia for action on climate change as rising sea levels threatened their very existence, with one leader brought to tears over it. You'd think Morrison could have at least shown a bit of sympathy for their plight. It's not hard to see why our neighbours might think the bully of their bully is their friend.