Anthony Albanese’s government is continuing its efforts to shut out China, by pushing for “defence” ties with Pacific Island states. Bilateral security treaties are being pursued as a matter of urgency.

Albanese has stated that he is open to closer defence ties with Fiji, which “could range from increased interoperability, the sort of training that we are seeing with the Pacific Policing Initiative, being expanded to increased engagement between our defence forces”.

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The template, however, would seem to be the Pukpuk Treaty (pukpuk being the pidgin word for crocodile) between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

It was reported on September 15 that the PNG cabinet had, despite some hiccups, approved the pact. The PNG cabinet observed that the treaty is intended “to prepare our militaries to be battle-ready and for a very bad day”. The leaked document envisages a treaty linking the........

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