In his first direct mention of Australia during his 10-day, eight-country tour, Wang told Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa that China was not looking for “exclusive rights” to help develop the area.
“China is ready to improve communication with all countries concerned about the Pacific island countries, especially Australia and New Zealand, and give their full strength to the respective forces to carry out more trilateral cooperation on the basis of respect the wishes of the Pacific island countries. ” He said.
Penny Wong arrived in Fiji shortly after her visit to Tokyo. Credit: Getty
Wang’s comments followed a diplomatic bombardment by Foreign Minister Penny Wong last week. Wong said it is up to individual nations to make sovereign decisions about their future, but warned them that a region-wide agreement with Beijing could sacrifice their independence, cause unsustainable debt levels and jeopardize Pacific security. The countries Wang visited are on a key strategic route between the United States, Australia and Asia and less than 2,000 kilometers off the coast of Queensland that could block supply lines in the event of a conflict.
Wang did not reach a consensus on the Pacific mega-agreement, but in the middle of his 10-day tour he has signed dozens of bilateral agreements that include police training in Samoa, COVID-19 economic recovery plans with Fiji, cooperation radio and television with Niue and the weather. exchange and marine protection programs with Kiribati.
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Beijing’s top diplomat has positioned China in meetings with its Pacific counterparts as the leader of a growing group of developing countries that feel outside the US-led international order, which he says is fueled. for Western geopolitical purposes.
“Developing countries need to strengthen solidarity,” Wang said on Sunday.
“As the largest developing country, we have always stood by developing countries and stood firm for equity and justice for small and medium-sized countries.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has yet to publicly respond to a message from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang congratulating him on his election. Beijing’s tone since the May 20 Labor victory has been softer, but $ 20 billion in trade sanctions on Australian exports remain in place, and Albanese has maintained that Australia will not start negotiations until trade restrictions are lifted. .