Australia and Vanuatu have indicated closer security ties amid ongoing competition between democratic allies and Beijing in the South Pacific region.
The latest move comes after the Australian government inked a security deal with the Pacific nation Fiji in October.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong spoke in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Dec. 12 along with her opposition Liberal-National counterpart Simon Birmingham.
“A high‑level bipartisan delegation is a statement—it is a statement about the enduring nature of our partnership with Pacific Island nations,” Wong told reporters. “It’s a statement about the importance we attach to our relationship with you, with Vanuatu, and with all other members of the Pacific Island Forum.”…