Asia | Banyan

Australia needs to rethink its approach to its Pacific island neighbours 

They care more about development than hard security

Illustration of Australia and the pacific islands overlaid on a rugby ball and pitch
Illustration: Lan Truong

FROM AUSTRALIA’S perspective the Pacific’s island states have sat for decades in its backyard. Latterly a gate-crasher has stomped in. China has shaken Australian assumptions in the Pacific.

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This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline “Ocean promotion”

From the February 17th 2024 edition

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