Comment on Australia and Vanuatu to negotiate security treaty

Australia and Vanuatu to negotiate security treaty

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia said on Monday it would negotiate a security treaty with Vanuatu, weeks after the Australian prime minister warned China against building a military base on the South Pacific island nation. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the negotiations during a visit to the Australian Parliament House by Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas. "We agreed to commence negotiations on a bilateral security treaty on common security interests, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime surveillance and border security, police and defense cooperation," Turnbull said in a statement. Turnbull said he and Salwai had reinforced their commitment to a deep and enduring economic and security partnership. A Vanuatu government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday. In May, China and Vanuatu denied media reports that the Chinese had approached the former joint British-French colony, population 280,000, about building a permanent military presence in the South Pacific. Turnbull said at the time Australia "would view with great concern the establishment of any foreign military bases in those Pacific island countries and neighbors of ours.Read more on NewsOK.com

 

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