Australia’s former senior diplomat to Papua New Guinea emphasized that the people of the Pacific cannot be swayed by money. According to him, Beijing’s attempts to expand its influence in the South Pacific will not weaken the West’s ties with the region. Mr. Kemish, a former Australian ambassador, highlighted the importance of values in influencing the region, stating that the contest is about values rather than financial incentives.
He pointed out that immaterial factors such as values and identity are more significant to the people of the South Pacific than monetary offers. Mr. Kemish stressed that the values promoted by Australia are far superior to the authoritarian values propagated by Beijing. He also expressed concerns about China’s influence on issues like media freedom and political expression in the region.
Additionally, Mr. Kemish dismissed the idea that aid alone can transform countries, stating that true transformation requires strong national leadership. He debunked the misconception that China provides significant aid to the region, highlighting that their focus is more on creating vulnerabilities in certain countries rather than genuine development support.
The professor’s remarks come at a time when several Pacific nations are facing challenges to their democratic institutions while dealing with increasing Chinese influence. Examples include Kiribati’s constitutional crisis and Vanuatu’s ongoing political challenges. On the other hand, some Pacific nations are strengthening their ties with Australia, as seen in Tuvalu’s recent security agreement granting Australia veto power over potential security agreements. Can you please rewrite this sentence?
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