China Threatens Papua New Guinea Over Defence Pact With Australia

Papua New Guinea is delaying forging closer military defense ties with Australia, as Beijing ramps up pressure on the island nation.

Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on July 28, 2023. Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images

China is pressuring Papua New Guinea not to agree to a mutual defense pact with Australia.

In a post on X on Sept. 18, the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea warned the island nation against agreeing to the mutual defense treaty with Australia, suggesting it “properly handle issues bearing on its sovereignty and long-term interests” and ”work with China“ to develop ”China-PNG relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.”