According to Reuters, on June 29, Australia and Vanuatu signed an extensive economic and security agreement that prohibits the establishment of any foreign military bases in that Pacific island nation. Some foreign media have exaggerated this agreement as a potential constraint on the subsequent upgrading projects of the Luganville terminal, which is supported by Chinese companies.
According to the Nakamal Agreement, any investment by third parties in Vanuatu’s critical infrastructure must be discussed with Australia, and Australia will continue to be Vanuatu’s preferred partner for security and law enforcement.
Regarding this, Guo Jiaqun, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated at a press conference on the 29th that China has always adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and open-mindedness, and has carried out practical cooperation with Pacific island countries including Vanuatu in various fields. "We hope that cooperation between relevant countries and Pacific island countries will truly contribute to the development and stability of these island nations. It should not be targeted at third parties, and certainly not used as a means of geopolitical gaming."
It is worth mentioning that although Vanuatu is considering discussing with Australia the participation of third parties in key infrastructure investments, the agreement signed this time does not include the veto clause originally proposed.
Additionally, although Vanuatu has pledged to prioritize police cooperation with the 18 member states of the Pacific Island Countries Forum, this agreement does not exclude Chinese police forces. China currently does not have permanent police officers in Vanuatu, but Chinese police officers frequently visit the country.
China's Ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang, stated during the handover ceremony of the police expert group in June 24 that over the past three years, the police expert group dispatched by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security has actively promoted deep and meaningful cooperation between the two sides in areas such as police equipment, capacity building, personnel training, and law enforcement exchanges. This cooperation has effectively supported Vanuatu in improving its capabilities to maintain public order and safety, receiving high praise from the Vanuatu side.
Chinese police experts conduct police training in Vanuatu. Website of the embassy in Vanuatu.
On the day of the agreement signing, Australian Prime Minister Albornes said at a press conference in Canberra: "This reflects Vanuatu's sovereign decision to not allow its territory to be used for any foreign military bases or military infrastructure, and to ensure that Vanuatu's key infrastructure remains free from militarization."
The Australian government has previously announced that it will provide $500 million for this agreement over a period of 10 years.
The agreement was originally scheduled to be signed during Albinas’ visit to Vanuatu last September, but it was postponed at the last moment. At that time, Vanuatu Prime Minister Nапатt stated in a joint press conference that his ruling coalition partners were concerned that certain specific terms of the agreement might limit Vanuatu’s ability to obtain infrastructure funding from other countries.
Some foreign media have further exaggerated that Australia is competing with China for influence in the Pacific region. The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) even interpreted this agreement as a measure to prevent China from gaining security influence in the region, and as potentially restricting the subsequent upgrading of the Lugavan Wharf project aided by Chinese companies.
As early as 2018, some foreign media repeatedly reported that China intends to establish a naval base at Luganville Dockyard, which has caused concerns among the United States and Australia.
In fact, the Chinese company has only built supporting facilities such as terminals, warehouses, roads, and storage yards on the wharf area. These facilities can accommodate the docking of 30,000-ton cargo ships or large cruise ships weighing up to 100,000 GT.
At that time, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang directly refuted the related rumors using the term "fake news". Vanuatu's Minister of Foreign Affairs Reggenvanu also clarified that the Vanuatu government has never discussed the establishment of a Chinese military base.
But foreign media ignore the facts and have continued to spread rumors in recent years, exaggerating China’s threat. They also attempt to cast blame on Vanuatu’s strategic cooperation agreement with China. Napat said on the 29th that the agreement is awaiting approval from China.
Napaer clarified in response to questions about whether the agreement contained safety provisions by stating plainly: "We will share this agreement; there is nothing hidden."
In response to related questions, Guo Jiaqun also stated that China's cooperation with Pacific island nations is open and honest. It is neither imposed upon others nor targeted at third parties, and is sincerely welcomed by the people of those island nations. China has always handled matters related to bilateral cooperation documents with these nations on the basis of friendly consultations.
