The US base of World War II will be rebuilt when China woo the Pacific allies
The US base of World War II will be rebuilt when China woo the Pacific allies
CANBERRA, Australia: Australia will once again develop a naval base in the South Pacific, used by the US. as a launch pad for World War II, at a time when China's regional presence it is becoming more visible.
Australia and Papua New Guinea agreed on Thursday to update the Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, in northern Australia. It is a movement that will likely give American and Australian forces greater access to a port in the South Pacific and access to the southern waters of the disputed South China Sea.
"I want to strengthen our commitment to the Pacific for the sake of the Pacific, because this is our home," said Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. His comments were made in a speech that coincided with a visit to the country by one of the main naval officers of the United States, the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, to discuss the strategic rivalry in the region.
"In a time of change, uncertainty and strategic competition, Australia will have to act with even greater purpose and conviction," said Morrison.
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We hope that the relevant countries, and the relevant people, can discard the mentality of the Cold War ...
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The Manus base, built by US forces in 1944, was used as a launch pad to recover the Pacific from Japanese forces and support the US campaign to liberate the Philippines. US troops built a 9,000-foot runway and docks on the island, and later used the base to try Japanese war criminals.
Admiral Richardson said that the Australian offer to redevelop the port as a whole was an "excellent opportunity," adding that from the perspective of the United States Navy, "we hope to identify opportunities where we can support that."
The announcement of the agreement came before a meeting of Asian and Pacific leaders in Papua New Guinea later this month, when Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to open his pocket for Pacific leaders.
Papua New Guinea has increasingly turned to China to obtain development assistance and loans in recent years to face a budget crisis and a slowdown in the economy. The government now owes China's Export and Import Bank close to $ 1.9 billion in low-cost loans for infrastructure and other construction projects, almost a quarter of its total debt.
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The increase in activity in the region as part of China's ambitious "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative has prompted a new commitment to the South Pacific from both New Zealand and Australia. Western nations, including France, are concerned about China's intentions towards vulnerable island nations whose strategic value exceeds their size and wealth. Earlier this year, Chinese and Vanuatu officials denied media reports in Australia that China had informally expressed an interest in establishing a permanent military post in Vanuatu.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Papua New Guinea on Thursday for pre-summit talks on Asia-Pacific economic cooperation, and said the recent increase in Beijing's aid to the Pacific countries South had no expectations. "We never interfere in the internal affairs of other countries and our assistance never comes with the political conditions," Wang said.
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, Lu Kang, said China's goal was "to help the Pacific island countries achieve peace, stability and prosperity."
"We hope that the relevant countries, and the relevant people, can discard the mentality of the Cold War ... and see China's relations with the Pacific Islands in an objective way," he said.
A US destroyer, the USS Michael Murphy, visited the capital of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, last month to strengthen naval ties with the country. In August, Australia exceeded China's offer to finance the Black Rock camp of the Fiji Army in Nadi, while an Australian naval task force carrying the US Marines sailed through the region in a show of military cooperation. with Pacific countries.
Last week, defense officials told Australian lawmakers that they had secretly visited Manus to seek more military aid and improvements at the dock to allow the hold-up of larger ships. The army of Papua New Guinea has also pressured Canberra to provide more advanced military equipment, including helicopters and surplus vehicles.
Admiral Richardson said it was too early to say whether the US Navy ships would also seek to use the Manus base, which Australia has used until recently to house asylum seekers.
"In this point [Manus] Now it is being defined, but you can only see the potential, "he said.
The head of the Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, said Canberra would jointly develop the Manus base dock for new patrol vessels to be donated to Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island nations, but said it was "very likely "that the Australian warships also use the port when necessary.
-Chao Deng in Beijing contributed to this article.
Write to Rob Taylor in rob.taylor@wsj.com
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