Anthony Albanese says he is \u201cconfident\u201d Pacific Island countries have picked Australia over China as their partner of choice, while unveiling a $600m package to fight drug trafficking in the region.<\/p>\n
Relations between Australia and its smaller Pacific neighbours have improved rapidly since 2022, with the Albanese government prioritising people-to-people ties and locking in security and economic deals.<\/p>\n
The approach has yielded two mutual defence pacts and opened dialogue with countries that previously leaned toward China.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Beijing\u2019s influence has slipped, with its nuclear-capable missile test in July sparking widespread condemnation.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister on Wednesday formally announced Canberra\u2019s latest play \u2013 a $600m pledge to crack down on \u201ccriminal elements in the region\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany Pacific nations spoke during that session about grappling with illicit drug trafficking, because it\u2019s really having an impact as well on social cohesion in those communities,\u201d Mr Albanese told reporters at the Pacific Island Forum (PIF) in Palau.<\/p>\n
Trafficking through the Pacific has soared in recent years due to demand for cocaine in Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Australian and international law enforcement agencies seized more than 17 tonnes in the region this year alone.<\/p>\n
That is almost four times the amount seized in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cPacific leaders have asked for Australia to do more and we will do more,\u201d Mr Albanese said.<\/p>\n
The $600m pledge would underpin the Waqa Moana initiative and go towards boosting aerial surveillance to track suspected drug-running boats ferrying narcotics across the Pacific.<\/p>\n
It would also support training other Pacific countries\u2019 police forces and bolstering Australian Federal Police efforts to fight the cartels producing the drugs in Central and South America.<\/p>\n
Speaking alongside Mr Albanese, Pacific Affairs Minister Pat Conroy warned that transnational crime \u201cis the biggest security threat to the Pacific after climate change\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that crime is becoming multinational in nature and that means a solution must be multinational as well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an example of a Pacific-led approach supported by Australian action to tackle the scourge of drug trafficking that is a challenge not just for Pacific Island nations but for Australia as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
He stressed that Waqa Moana would be \u201copt-in\u201d, and that the Canberra is \u201cconscious always of the sovereignty of each nation\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is important \u2013 sovereignty above all else,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is another example \u2026 of Australia turning up, listening and acting on the priorities of the Pacific in a way that is respectful to sovereignty, that tackles collective issues collectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taiwan welcome at PIF<\/p>\n
Taiwan\u2019s presence at the PIF has ruffled feathers in Beijing, drawing threats of \u201cconsequences\u201d from China\u2019s Pacific envoy, Qian Bo.<\/p>\n
He told reporters after Tuesday\u2019s opening ceremony that he had \u201cserious concerns\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made our position very clear to the government of Palau and the secretariat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Albanese pushed back against Mr Qian\u2019s comments when asked about them later, saying that the \u201cPacific Island Forum determines what happens here, not any other country\u201d.<\/p>\n
During an interview on Wednesday, Mr Conroy echoed Mr Albanese and said that the PIF members had agreed more than 30 years ago that \u201cTaiwan can attend the PIF as a development partner while the People\u2019s Republic of China attends as a dialogue partner\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s the consensus that\u2019s existed in the PIF since 1992,\u201d Mr Conroy told ABC\u2019s Radio National.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was confirmed last year and it\u2019s what Australia supports.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read related topics:Anthony Albanese<\/a>China<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anthony Albanese says he is \u201cconfident\u201d Pacific Island countries have picked Australia over China as their partner 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