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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/29/wong-announces-new-digital-cable-centre-to-limit-chinas-influence-in-indo-pacific>
"Australia is stepping up its attempts to limit China’s influence in the
Pacific, with the establishment of a new “cable connectivity and resilience
centre” designed to boost connectivity for Pacific nations.
The foreign Minister, Penny Wong, will announce the centre while in Japan for
the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting alongside counterparts from the United
States, Japan and India.
The centre, to which Australia has committed $18m over the next four years,
will provide technical assistance and training across the Indo-Pacific, assist
Pacific island governments regulate the undersea cables and “share information
and host dialogues” to strengthen engagement between Indo-Pacific governments
and industry.
Wong said in a statement the centre is an important demonstration of the Quad’s
delivery in the region, “responding to the Indo-Pacific’s most pressing
challenges”.
The centre will be staffed by Australian government public servants who will be
tasked with providing advice and assistance to individual Pacific nations.
Much has been made by the Quad leaders of the contested nature of the
Indo-Pacific, with the four countries united in their agreement China should be
denied a stronger foothold in the region. A renewed focus on providing the
infrastructure and assistance Pacific nations need has been seen as critical in
preventing China from establishing a stronger presence in the region.
Underwater sea cables connect the island nations, and in some cases, those
connections extend to Australia as the closest major developed landmass.
The Chinese government had been eyeing projects in the region, stepping in to
narrow some of the connectivity divides experienced in nations such as Nauru
and Fiji, and in 2022 pursued a Pacific-wide deal which included
communications. Restoring Australia as the “partner of choice” for Pacific
nations was one of the first identified priorities of the Albanese government."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
