The federal government has flagged it wants to expand options for foreigners to serve in the Defence Force,with Pacific Island recruits top of the list.
The suspect’s identification by intelligence agencies raises big questions for one of Australia’s neighbours and about China’s attempts to wield influence in the Pacific.
Fiji’s prime minister has called on China to retreat from the South Pacific as an investigation by The Age,The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes uncovers a police sting showing Beijing’s desire to operate overseas.
Amit Gupta’s home was raided,had his phones tapped and then he was gone. Now authorities can’t get him back.
While authorities watched on,key politicians accepted millions in largesse from an Australian company.
Three Pacific leaders have warned they may be forced to turn to China for financial support because their oldest and closest ally,the United States,is unreliable.
The Albanese government is confident Tuvalu will continue with a landmark climate and security pact struck with Australia last year,after electing a new leader.
In the first address to parliament by a Pacific leader,James Marape said PNG wanted to end its dependence on foreign aid.
The federal government has vowed to use every diplomatic tool possible to counter China’s increasingly skilful efforts to expand its influence in the Pacific.
Australia and the US are locked in an intense battle with China for influence in the Pacific,including for control of undersea cable networks.
PNG’s foreign minister reveals that China approached the Pacific nation about signing a security and policing deal less than two months after Australia signed its own security agreement.