Australia Unveils Strategy to Curb Chinese Influence in Pacific

Australia has moved to rein in China's rising influence in the Pacific, announcing the creation of a new "cable connectivity and resilience centre". The Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, revealed the initiative at the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Japan, which was attended by representatives from the United States, Japan, and India.

The Australian government has committed $18 million over four years to the centre. Its aims include improving connectivity in Pacific nations, providing crucial technical assistance, and helping to regulate undersea cables. Furthermore, the centre will foster dialogue and strengthen engagement between governments and industry in the Indo-Pacific region.

According to Minister Wong, establishing the centre is a vital step forward for the Quad's presence in the region and is part of a wider response to the region's most urgent challenges. 

The centre’s staff, composed of Australian government public servants, will be primarily responsible for advising and assisting Pacific nations.

This move comes amidst concerns expressed by the Quad leaders over China's growing presence in the Indo-Pacific. Infrastructure provision and assistance to Pacific nations are seen as key to blocking China from gaining a stronger foothold.

The announcement follows a concerted effort by Australia and the United States to strategically sideline China in the Pacific, which included plans for Google and Microsoft to construct new trans-Pacific cables, effectively blocking Chinese firm Huawei from creating its own.

The Australia-US agreement will extend cabled internet to parts of the Indo-Pacific, a strategic boon, as both nations strive to maintain strategic control in the region.

- CyberBeat