Albanese notches diplomatic win with Pacific policing deal

Initiative to deal with natural disasters and security issues will curb China's influence

- Jonathan Pearlman

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been cutting down on his international travel recently as he prepares for an election in early 2025, but he spent three days in the small Pacific nation of Tonga this week for a summit that he could not afford to miss.

Since 2018, when newly appointed leader Scott Morrison stayed at home, Australian prime ministers have made sure that they attend the annual leaders' summit of the Pacific Islands Forum, an 18-member grouping that includes Australia and New Zealand.

This heightened interest in the Pacific has been prompted by concerns in Canberra, Wellington and Washington about China's rising influence in the region.

In 2019, China persuaded two Pacific countries - Solomon Islands and Kiribati - to switch allegiance to it from Taiwan. Nauru switched in January 2024. China also signed a secret security deal with the Solomon Islands in April 2022, raising concerns in Canberra that it could lead to the establishment of a military base.

But Australia has been fighting back and trying to limit China's influence and this week's summit delivered Canberra a significant diplomatic victory in the form of a new regionwide policing deal.

The Pacific Policing Initiative, to be funded by Australia at a cost of A$400 million (S$354 million) over five years, will involve training police from across the region in Brisbane, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, and three other Pacific cities to be determined.