Papua New Guinea gains a team in Australian rugby league in diplomatic push aimed at curbing China

In a soft diplomacy move aimed at countering Chinese influence in the South Pacific, Papua New Guinea will have its own team in Australia’s National Rugby League starting in 2028, with Australia committing $380 million over a decade for this initiative. Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape announced this deal, along with a bilateral security agreement, to enhance regional security and strengthen ties between the two nations, emphasizing the importance of people-to-people relations in foreign affairs. This security pact, signed a year ago, solidifies Australia as Papua New Guinea’s preferred security partner, focusing on areas such as policing, courts, and prisons, while also supporting the construction of a new police training center in Port Moresby for recruits from other Pacific nations.

Full Article