Australia and Papua New Guinea Forge Defense Pact to Counter China’s Expanding Influence

As China steadily expands its influence across the South Pacific, Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have taken decisive steps to fortify their defense relationship with a new security pact scheduled for signing this week. This move signals Canberra's resolve to counter Beijing’s growing footprint in a region vital to American strategic interests and national security. Why does this matter for America? The South Pacific has long been a zone of strategic importance for the United States and its allies. China's aggressive diplomacy, including shifting island allegiances from Taiwan to Beijing and expanding police training programs across multiple Pacific nations,...