Australia Works on Security Deal With Vanuatu in Bid to Counter China’s Influence

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai speaks to Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull before a bilateral meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 25, 2018. Mick Tsikas/Reuters

SYDNEY—Australia promised on June 25 to bolster the cybersecurity capabilities of Vanuatu as it agreed to begin negotiating a security treaty with its Pacific neighbor.

Australia is ramping up diplomacy in the South Pacific region to combat China’s growing influence.