Australia Signs Defense Treaty With PNG to Curb China Influence

Australia and northern neighbor Papua New Guinea signed a joint defense pact, as Canberra pushes to curb China’s influence in the region.

The treaty was signed in Canberra on Monday by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape, according to a statement. It will be Australia’s first such alliance in more than 70 years and the first for PNG with any country.