Name? Anthony Albanese
Westphalian identity? Australian
Age? 63
Why is he in the news? Anthony Albanese, Australia’s Prime Minister, signed a mutual defence treaty, the Ocean of Peace Alliance with Fiji. Albanese seeks regional cooperation to defy China’s growing influence. The alliance binds participants to mutual defence and remains open to additional members, allowing future participation of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Tonga. Albanese is due to meet more Pacific leaders and the Indian Prime Minister as he tours the region, continuing his diplomatic blitz.
Why do we care? A year ago, Australia had only two formal defence alliances, with ANZUS dating back to 1951. Twelve months before the Veitacini Treaty, Albanese signed a mutual defence alliance with PNG. Moreover, the PM signed the Nakamal agreement with Vanuatu at the end of June. With the agreement with Fiji signed Albanese is on a roll in the region.
Why should you care? Pacific nations held strong economic ties with China through the Belt and Road Initiative. However, over the past decade, China has been conducting military expansion and deep sea mining exploration in the region, increasingly unsettling neighbouring states. Albanese’s alliances in the region are challenging China’s military expansion and economic influence in the South Pacific.
Who else cares? Xi Jinping’s government issued a statement warning Australia not to harm Chinese interests in the Pacific. It is not the first time China has been defied by the Pacific in the past year. Tuvalu contested China’s power over Taiwan by signing a deal with Taiwan, implicitly challenging Beijing’s claim over the island.
Any further comments? Albanese’s alliance with Fiji certainly caught Xi’s attention. A few hours after the signature of the Ocean of Peace Alliance, China launched a long-range nuclear-capable missile towards the Pacific Ocean, into international waters violating the Rarotonga Treaty. And to make matters worse, China did so without notifying other states 48 hours in advance, as is customary.
