Australia Probing Nauru’s $1 Billion China Deal

Nauru officials have inked a $1 billion development deal with the China Rural Revitalisation and Development Corporation.
Australia Probing Nauru’s $1 Billion China Deal
This general view shows the Civic Center where the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) took place in Aiwo on the island of Nauru on Sept. 4, 2018. Mike Leyral/AFP/Getty Images
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The Australian government is investigating whether Nauru’s new AU$1 billion (US$650 million) development deal with a Chinese corporation breaches an ongoing bilateral security pact.

That pact, agreed to in December 2024, requires Nauru to seek Australia’s consent before entering into any third-party security arrangement, including projects involving critical infrastructure such as telecommunications or banking.

Naziya Alvi Rahman
Naziya Alvi Rahman
Author
Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].