Monday, 8 February 2021, 4:23 pm
Clever diplomacy rarely involves total commitment or
unqualified fidelity to any one state. Treacherous waters
require careful navigation, an understanding of shifty and
shifting allegiances. The goal for the prudent statesperson
is the pursuit of self-interest without alienation. In that
regard, Papua New Guinea is proving increasingly
interesting, finding itself between playground thugs with
varying degrees of form. It has refused to cold shoulder the
People’s Republic of China, signing to its Belt and Road
Initiative. It also continues to accept the patronising
largesse from Australia, a country increasingly hostile to
Beijing’s ambitions in the Asia-Pacific.
China is trying to build a $39 billion major seaport city on Papua New Guinea (PNG), and has already reached out to PNG Prime Minister James Marape to approve the project, The Australian reported. If approved, China would establish a major presence on the country’s southern coast, within about 200 km (about 124 miles) of the Australian mainland and even closer to Australian islands in the Torres Strait.
The project would be built in the town of Daru and would be known as the “New Daru City,” encompassing a 100 square km area. The project is aimed at PNG’s impoverished Western Province. Another Chinese company is looking to build a $200 million fisheries industrial park in the area and New Daru City would include fisheries, agricultural processing facilities, and provision for “intensive manufacturing.” New Daru City’s proposed project value would exceed PNG’s GDP by about $5 billion.