Papua New Guinean Prime Minister James Marape at APEC Haus in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on July 28, 2023. Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
China is pressuring Papua New Guinea not to agree to a mutual defense pact with Australia.
In a post on X on Sept. 18, the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea warned the island nation against agreeing to the mutual defense treaty with Australia, suggesting it “properly handle issues bearing on its sovereignty and long-term interests” and ”work with China“ to develop ”China-PNG relations and mutually beneficial cooperation.”
