Tonga’s NUKU’ALOFA: Australia reported that Pacific Island leaders who met at a summit on Wednesday ( July 28 ) approved a contentious regional surveillance program in an effort to limit China’s protection presence there.
According to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, leaders have agreed to set up up up to four local police training facilities and a global crisis response force.
A regiment of about 200 officers from various Pacific Island countries could be invited to local hotspots and disaster zones as needed in accordance with the plan.
This demonstrates how Western officials are collaborating to create the future that we want to see, Albanese said in a positive way.
In a place rife with rivalry between China and the United States, he was flanked by officials from Fiji, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.
According to Mihai Sora of the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based consider container, Wednesday’s support was a political victory for Australia and for the Pacific Islands Forum, which had appeared greatly divided on the subject.
Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, two of China’s local allies, were concerned that the police plan posed a “geo-strategic denial security doctrine,” meant to encircle Beijing.
While all people of the community have endorsed the offer in principle, regional leaders will have to determine how much they participate, if at all.