Opinion | Pacific challenges await next Australian government amid China’s growing interest in region
- As Australia faces geopolitical challenges, it will need to avoid the impression its focus on the region has been motivated only by an impulse to counter China’s reach
- Meanwhile, the rift in the Pacific Islands Forum remains a serious issue, and independence movements in places like New Caledonia will likely pose fresh strategic challenges
Successive Australian governments have lined up over recent decades to emphasise the importance of the Pacific region to Australian interests.
While there are some differences in emphasis between the two major parties’ approach to the Pacific, we can expect considerable continuity in Australia’s approach to the region if there is a change of government in May.
Regional capitals will be early destinations for newly-elected ministers. The Pacific will remain the main focus of the Australian aid programme, and the Australian Defence Force will continue to provide humanitarian support following natural disasters, as it has for decades.
Economic integration with the region will remain a priority, as will labour market access.
Both sides of politics consider this to be an unwelcome development for Australian national security. It also highlights that a “business as usual” Australian approach to the Pacific is no longer enough.