Vanuatu accuses Australia and China of 'undermining' its sovereignty
Vanuatu has signed pacts with both Australia and China but accuses each of 'undermining' the country, Prime Minister Jotham Napat told ABC News. He framed the criticism as a defence of an independent Pacific stance, putting both Canberra and Beijing on notice. The remarks reshape the diplomatic backdrop in a region where strategic competition is intensifying.
ABC News reports that Prime Minister Jotham Napat has confirmed Vanuatu has signed agreements with both Australia and China, while making clear that Port Vila is uncomfortable with both partners. According to Napat, the two major powers are pressing on the sovereignty and decision-making space of the Pacific island state.
Vanuatu has been watched closely by Australia and New Zealand in recent years because of expanding infrastructure ties with China. A security pact signed with Canberra last year was politically controversial, while Beijing's development loans and port-related investments have triggered debate over the country's debt exposure.
Napat's accusation of 'undermining' highlights the manoeuvring room that small island states demand in Pacific diplomacy. Australia is trying to defend the network of pacts it has built to counter Chinese military and soft-power outreach, while Beijing aims to deepen its strategic footprint. The remarks suggest debate will sharpen ahead of the next Pacific Islands Forum.
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