THE new wharf at Espiritu Santo island in Vanuatu is one of the longest in the South Pacific. Built by Chinese contractors with a loan from the Chinese government, it can accommodate three cargo ships or two cruise liners at the same time. But it is not its capacity that has attracted attention in nearby Australia (see map). Press reports there suggest that the governments of China and Vanuatu have been discussing the establishment of a Chinese naval base on Espiritu Santo. Although Vanuatu’s foreign minister, Ralph Regenvanu, roundly dismissed the reports, Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, took the story sufficiently seriously to say, “We would view with great concern the establishment of any foreign military bases in those Pacific Island countries.” Vanuatu’s prime minister has since reassured him in person that no base is in the offing.
China has greatly expanded its presence in Pacific countries in recent years, mainly by financing infrastructure projects like the wharf. But...Continue reading
from Asia https://ift.tt/2Hec2QV
EmoticonEmoticon