ROFLMAO
PNG won't be used for 'offensive military operations' - prime minister
APEC summit in Bangkok
By Kirsty Needham
Mon, May 22, 2023
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) will not be used as a base for "war to be launched", and a defence agreement with the United States prohibited "offensive military operations", its prime minister said on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday a defence cooperation deal signed with PNG earlier that day would expand the Pacific island nation's capabilities and make it easier for the U.S. military to train with its forces.
The deal sparked student protests amid concern it could embroil PNG in strategic competition between the U.S. and China.
Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement was not a treaty and did not need to be ratified by parliament, adding he would release it in full for public scrutiny on Thursday.
"It's not a military base to be set up here for war to be launched," he told radio station 100FM.
"There's a specific clause that says that this partnership is not a partnership for PNG to be used as a place for launching offensive military operations from Papua New Guinea," he said.
The United States and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific island nations from building security ties with China, a rising concern amid tension over Taiwan, and after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year.
China has been a major infrastructure investor in PNG, which sits near important sea lanes and international submarine cables linking the United States and ally Australia, that were crucial in World War Two.
Marape said PNG's military is the weakest in the region at a time of high tensions. The boost provided by the United States would also improve domestic security and encourage more foreign investors to set up in the country of 9 million that is rich in natural resources but largely undeveloped.
"There will be substantial infrastructure investment" flowing from the deal, in airports, ports, roads, communications and electricity to benefit the public, he said, while not giving details.
Subsidiary agreements that will determine how the U.S. military and civilian contractors come into PNG are being worked out, he said.
Australia has welcomed the defence cooperation agreement between its closest neighbour and the United States.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Robert Birsel)
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Papua New Guinea (PNG) will not be used as a base for "war to be launched", and a defence agreement with the United States prohibited "offensive military operations", its prime minister said on Tuesday.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday a defence cooperation deal signed with PNG earlier that day would expand the Pacific island nation's capabilities and make it easier for the U.S. military to train with its forces.
The deal sparked student protests amid concern it could embroil PNG in strategic competition between the U.S. and China.
Prime Minister James Marape said the agreement was not a treaty and did not need to be ratified by parliament, adding he would release it in full for public scrutiny on Thursday.
"It's not a military base to be set up here for war to be launched," he told radio station 100FM.
"There's a specific clause that says that this partnership is not a partnership for PNG to be used as a place for launching offensive military operations from Papua New Guinea," he said.
The United States and its allies are seeking to deter Pacific island nations from building security ties with China, a rising concern amid tension over Taiwan, and after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year.
China has been a major infrastructure investor in PNG, which sits near important sea lanes and international submarine cables linking the United States and ally Australia, that were crucial in World War Two.
Marape said PNG's military is the weakest in the region at a time of high tensions. The boost provided by the United States would also improve domestic security and encourage more foreign investors to set up in the country of 9 million that is rich in natural resources but largely undeveloped.
"There will be substantial infrastructure investment" flowing from the deal, in airports, ports, roads, communications and electricity to benefit the public, he said, while not giving details.
Subsidiary agreements that will determine how the U.S. military and civilian contractors come into PNG are being worked out, he said.
Australia has welcomed the defence cooperation agreement between its closest neighbour and the United States.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Robert Birsel)
Papua New Guinea to sign security pact with US, PM says
Issued on: 18/05/2023
Port Moresby (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will sign a security pact with the United States that gives American troops access to the Pacific nation's ports and airports, its leader said Thursday, as Washington jostles for influence in the region with Beijing.
US President Joe Biden has placed more importance on the Pacific over concerns about an increasingly assertive China, which is trying to woo nations with an array of diplomatic and financial incentives in return for strategic support.
Prime Minister James Marape said two agreements focusing on defence cooperation and maritime surveillance had been agreed with Washington and would be formally signed at the earliest opportunity after parliamentary approval.
"We are elevating to a specific defence cooperation agreement, something that is falling short of a treaty," he told a press conference.
"We are moving ahead, we are signing with the best military on the face of planet Earth."
The agreements, which can be renewed every 15 years, will give the United States vital movement in Papua New Guinea's waters near sea routes to Australia and Japan, in return for access to US satellite surveillance, he said.
"It now gives us an opportune time to focus not just on maritime access but satellite access on... illegal activities on the high sea," Marape said.
A leaked draft version of the defence cooperation agreement showed American forces would have broad autonomy at some of the country's key entry points, but Marape said any access would have to be approved by his government.
"The ports, the infrastructure... will not in any way stand to be exclusively used by the military," he said.
"They would always be asking our defence to have access to our facilities."
Biden -- whose uncle died in Papua New Guinea in the Second World War -- cancelled a historic first visit to the most populous South Pacific nation next week because of domestic debt ceiling crisis talks.
Marape said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would instead attend the summit with Pacific leaders in Port Moresby on Monday.
Washington is courting Pacific nations more intensely after the Solomon Islands became the unlikely epicentre of a diplomatic tussle between the United States and China last year when it signed a security pact with Beijing.
Marape said Papua New Guinea's pact with Washington would not prevent it from negotiating such deals with other nations, including China.
© 2023 AFP
Issued on: 18/05/2023
Port Moresby (AFP) – Papua New Guinea will sign a security pact with the United States that gives American troops access to the Pacific nation's ports and airports, its leader said Thursday, as Washington jostles for influence in the region with Beijing.
US President Joe Biden has placed more importance on the Pacific over concerns about an increasingly assertive China, which is trying to woo nations with an array of diplomatic and financial incentives in return for strategic support.
Prime Minister James Marape said two agreements focusing on defence cooperation and maritime surveillance had been agreed with Washington and would be formally signed at the earliest opportunity after parliamentary approval.
"We are elevating to a specific defence cooperation agreement, something that is falling short of a treaty," he told a press conference.
"We are moving ahead, we are signing with the best military on the face of planet Earth."
The agreements, which can be renewed every 15 years, will give the United States vital movement in Papua New Guinea's waters near sea routes to Australia and Japan, in return for access to US satellite surveillance, he said.
"It now gives us an opportune time to focus not just on maritime access but satellite access on... illegal activities on the high sea," Marape said.
A leaked draft version of the defence cooperation agreement showed American forces would have broad autonomy at some of the country's key entry points, but Marape said any access would have to be approved by his government.
"The ports, the infrastructure... will not in any way stand to be exclusively used by the military," he said.
"They would always be asking our defence to have access to our facilities."
Biden -- whose uncle died in Papua New Guinea in the Second World War -- cancelled a historic first visit to the most populous South Pacific nation next week because of domestic debt ceiling crisis talks.
Marape said Secretary of State Antony Blinken would instead attend the summit with Pacific leaders in Port Moresby on Monday.
Washington is courting Pacific nations more intensely after the Solomon Islands became the unlikely epicentre of a diplomatic tussle between the United States and China last year when it signed a security pact with Beijing.
Marape said Papua New Guinea's pact with Washington would not prevent it from negotiating such deals with other nations, including China.
© 2023 AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment