Tiny Nauru in talks with Australia, China amid Pacific influence tussle

4/12/2024 16:22

        The Pacific island nation of Nauru is in talks with Australia on a migration and economic deal, a Nauru official said on Wednesday, as the world's third-smallest country also weighs offers from China.
        
        Beijing trumpeted Nauru's move in January to switch diplomatic ties to China from Taiwan, amid a tussle for influence in the Pacific Islands, where the Asian giant's growing police presence has raised concern in Australia.
        
        China pledged A$15 million in direct budget support to Nauru this year, although the money had not been received by October, a Nauru government budget update showed.
        
        Australia's anxiety about China's security ambitions in the Pacific Islands grew after Beijing fired an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean in September.
        
        A Nauru government official confirmed to Reuters there were talks between President David Adeang and Australia on a migration deal.
        
        On Wednesday, Australia's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Canberra wanted a pact with Nauru that prevented China from gaining a security foothold.