Deputy PM Plays Down Beijing Security Threat As PNG League Announcement Nears

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles looks on during a welcome to the country ahead of the Australia and South Korea Foreign and Defence Ministers meeting in Melbourne, Australia, on May 1, 2024. Asanka Brendon Ratnayake-Pool/Getty Images

As a mooted $600 million taxpayer-backed deal for a Papua New Guinea-based (PNG) rugby league team edges closer, Labor ministers have had to justify the expense and the potential threat from Beijing.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles refrained from making obvious links to the communist threat in the developing country, but emphasised Australia’s links.

“We want to be the security partner of choice for PNG. And we believe we are the security partner of choice,” Marles told ABC Breakfast on Dec. 6.

He did not provide any clarity on the specifics of a potential agreement.

Minister Keeping Mum on Security Threat

The National Rugby League’s (NRL) impending announcement regarding the entry of a Port Moresby-based team is expected next week.

Australia’s financial support comes as part of a broader strategy to bolster PNG’s relationship with Australia, which some suggest is aimed at creating a bulwark against Beijing establishing a military or police presence in the Pacific nation.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has made overt moves to build influence in the South Pacific region, notably with the Solomon Islands, where the CCP’s military arm signed a security deal with the previous leadership.

The deal would have allowed the CCP’s People’s Liberation Army—Navy to send weapons, troops, and naval ships to the island.

Beijing’s ambitions have been met by democratic leaders with their own diplomatic efforts across the 20 or more Pacific governments.

Meanwhile, Marles emphasised that the NRL deal was part of a long-standing aspiration for both Australia and PNG.

He recalled his time as Parliamentary Secretary for the Pacific in 2010 when the idea was first discussed.

“This is a long-held dream of both Papua New Guinea and so many of us who have worked with PNG over many, many years,” Marles said.

“It’s about the cultural affinity that our two countries have. Rugby League is a massive passion in Papua New Guinea, and across the relationship, be it security, cultural engagement, or sporting engagement, we want to have the very best relationship that we can possibly have with Papua New Guinea.”

Security and Sovereignty: PNG’s Stand

PNG Prime Minister James Marape has also denied that security matters are a condition for the NRL bid.

“There’s no condition ‘you do this, and we will give you the team,” Marape told reporters in Sydney on Dec 5.

“The rugby league team comes on its own, and we look forward to pushing that thing through. This agreement, or this game, rather, this team, is not all about our security relationship with Australia.”

Defence Cooperation Remains Central

Marles also spoke of the defence ties between PNG and Australia.

“We work closely with Papua New Guinea in relation to our defence cooperation, the security of both of our countries.”

While he acknowledged PNG’s sovereignty in its international relations, he also stressed the importance of building and strengthening the bilateral relationship.

“PNG is a very close friend. I mean, it’s obviously a sovereign country and has its rights to have the relationships that it wants to have with any other country, and we’re very clear in the way in which we engage with PNG,” Marles added.