AUSTRALIA’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the country is the “security partner of choice” for Papua New Guinea following reports of a potential security deal with China.
Papua New Guinea is a sovereign government that has no closer friend than Australia.
This was Albanese’s response following reports that the neighboring Pacific Island country is early stages of negotiations with China for a potential security and policing deal.
Reports of negotiations with China surfaced after riots ripped the capital of Port Moresby earlier this month.
Protests over a pay cut which officials have blamed on an administrative glitch resorted to violence wherein shops were set on fire and massive looting and riots ensued.
The news of a potential security deal with China also came following Albanese’s visit to Papua New Guinea earlier this month.
Albanese said Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape is scheduled to visit Australia in the next few weeks and is set to become the first prime minister of his country to address the Australian parliament on the 8th of February.
Papua New Guinea previously said it recognizes Australia and the United States are its security partners, while China stands as its important economic partner.
