A report by Fairfax Media claimed that the governments of China and Vanuatu have been holding preliminary discussions regarding the former setting up a military base in the South Pacific island nation, though a formal declaration is yet to be made.
A report in The Sunday Morning Herald says that China was looking to make its military base in Vanuatu permanent, something which would have “long-term global ramifications”, reported ANI.
China, however, has denied any discussion pertaining to the setting up of a military base in the South Pacific, calling such speculation “ridiculous” and “impossible”.
As reported by The Sunday Morning Herald, the idea of China forming a military base in Vanuatu could be a matter of growing concern for the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
Considering that the base is less than 2,000 kilometres from the Australian coast, it would give China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) the opportunity to challenge America's post-war dominance of the Pacific, something which is largely supported by Australia.
It would upend the long-standing strategic balance in the region, potentially increasing the risk of confrontation between China and the United States, the report mentions.
The report further mentions that China has spent millions of dollars in developing Vanuatu and recently built a new residence for Prime Minister Charlot Salwai as well as other government buildings.
Aussie Foreign Minister Confident of Strong Ties With Vanuatu
Speaking to The Guardian, Chen Ke, a spokesman for the ambassador to Vanuatu, said the idea of China setting up a military base in the island nation is “impossible”.
Saying that the conversation was “never on the table”, a senior Vanuatu government official told the newspaper that he had access to the key matters being discussed in both ministries and that it had never been brought up.
The official also added that the source for the story put forth by Fairfax was not the Vanuatu government.
The Australian foreign minister, Julie Bishop, also told ABC News that she remained “confident that Australia is Vanuatu’s strategic partner of choice”.
We must remember that Vanuatu is a sovereign nation and its foreign and defence relations are a matter for Vanuatu.Julie Bishop told ABC News
(With inputs from Fairfax Media, The Sunday Morning Herald and The Guardian)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)