US military will have 'unimpeded' access to Papua New Guinea bases under new security deal | Pacific islands | The Guardian
By: the Guardian
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Deal signed last month gives US 'exclusive use' of parts of bases, as Palau PM says he has asked US to step up patrols after Chinese incursions into its waters
The US military can develop and operate out of bases in Papua New Guinea, according to a landmark security pact that is part of Washington's efforts to outflank China in the Pacific.
The full text of the deal was tabled in Papua New Guinea's parliament on Wednesday evening and obtained by AFP, shedding light on details that have been closely guarded since the pact was signed in May.
With PNG's agreement, the US will be able to station troops and vessels at six key ports and airports, including Lombrum naval base on Manus Island and facilities in the capital, Port Moresby.
Washington would have "unimpeded access" to the sites to "pre-position equipment, supplies and materiel", and have "exclusive use" of some base zones, where development and "construction activities" could be carried out.
The agreement opens the door to Washington establishing a new military footprint in the western Pacific, at a time of growing rivalry with Beijing.
Papua New Guinea won't be base 'for war to be launched', says PM, after US security dealRead more
The details emerged as the president of the Pacific island country of Palau told Reuters he had asked the US to step up patrols of its waters after several recent incursions by Chinese vessels into its exclusive economic zone.
Palau's president, Surangel Whipps Jr, said in an interview he would also welcome a bigger US military presence, with troops stationed alongside existing coastguard and civil action teams.
Palau identified Chinese vessels in its waters as recently as May, when a ship appeared to be surveying an area near fibre optic cables vital to Palau's communications, Whipps said.
"No matter what, we're going to be in the centre of whatever's happening, so it's important that we're protected," Whipps said during a visit to Tokyo on Wednesday, adding that "to get peace, you have to project strength".
The Pentagon and China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Palau has a decades-old pact with Washington whereby the US retains responsibility for its defence and provides economic assistance - a legacy that has its roots in the second world war.
In PNG, access to Lombrum could be used to reinforce US facilities on Guam to the north, which could be key in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
PNG's prime minister, James Marape, has been forced to defend the deal against a wave of protests and criticism, with some opponents questioning whether PNG was signing away its sovereignty.
"We have allowed our military to be eroded in the last 48 years," he told parliament on Wednesday evening. "Sovereignty is defined by the robustness and strength of your military."
Rich in natural resources and close to key shipping routes, PNG increasingly finds itself at the centre of a diplomatic tug-of-war between Washington and Beijing.
Former prime minister Peter O'Neill said the agreement painted a target on PNG's back. "America is doing it for the protection of their own national interest, we all understand the geopolitics happening within our region," he said.
The US president, Joe Biden, had been due to visit PNG to sign the deal in May, a trip that was derailed by a budget tussle in the US Congress.
Washington is trying to woo Pacific nations with an array of diplomatic and financial incentives in return for strategic support, after similar moves by Beijing.
Chinese firms have snapped up mines and ports across the Pacific, and last year signed a secretive security pact with nearby Solomon Islands that allows China to deploy troops to the Solomons.
The US fears that a Chinese military foothold in the South Pacific could outflank its facilities on Guam, and make the defence of Taiwan more complicated in the event of an invasion by China.
With Agence France-Presse and Reuters
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This is really a big deal and with Palau open to increasing our military presence in addition to PNG the US position in the Pacific is strengthened a great deal.
I saw this coming eventually. Siting Chinese warships by it's cables probably made a few politicians shit their pants.
LOL, I'm sure that it did and I doubt if many members of NT realize how big of a deal this is. The South Pacific has become the new battle ground for the US and China. I have a lot of friends on Samoa and they have been keeping me updated on how much the Chinese have invested in the country but the new administration in Samoa revoked the contract for the Chinese to build a new port facility last year.
That and how much it hurt the whole region when Trump pulled us out of the Pan Pacific Trade deal.
I've been hearing for a few year now how China goes into poorer areas and floats loans for infrastructure projects and at the first sign of distress takes them over.
That is exactly what they do all one has to do is look at Sri Lanka the the Chinese taking over a major harbor operation when Sri Lanka could not make the payments.
That was foolish beyond reason. It excluded the Chinese and gave American farmers a huge market.
This definitely strengthens our security and the security of our Pacific region allies. Glad to see it.
It sure does, G.
I see where Xi is angry that Biden called him a dictator. He must be much more angry about the agreement between the US and PNG the site of 4 years of vicious battles in WWII.
Now the US had our nuclear-capable B 52s land in Indonesia for the first time along with recent training exercises between the two air forces and Indonesia's recent order of 35 F15 from the US.
I imagine all of those recent developments were much more serious to Xi than being called a dictator.