The United States' small plan has raised concerns in this Pacific island country | Pacific | United States

Recently, more details of the defense cooperation agreement signed between the United States and Papua New Guinea were exposed when it was submitted to the Papua New Guinea Parliament, which not only sparked controversy that may violate the Papua New Guinea Constitution, but also sparked widespread concern and criticism from all parties.

Some analysts believe that in the complex and sensitive international political situation, the Pacific island countries in a unique geographical position have always avoided being involved in the whirlpool of great power games. In the final analysis, this small abacus of the United States is still a trick of regional confrontation, which may aggravate the region. Worries about becoming a "channel for US nuclear submarines.

On November 14, 2018, helicopters and warships patrolled the sea in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xuefei

Worries about obstructing Papua New Guinea's sovereignty

"Americans usually don't respect agreements"

In May this year, when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited PNG on behalf of President Biden who had temporarily broken his promise, the two sides signed the agreement. According to multiple media reports, the scope of this agreement is relatively broad, and it will ensure the smooth passage of the US in some ports and airports in Papua New Guinea, including the Longbloom Naval Base on Manus Island and the seaport of the capital Port Moresby. It can also carry out activities such as surveillance, reconnaissance, ship refueling, and troop deployment.

In mid June, when this agreement was submitted to the Papua New Guinea parliament, it once again sparked questioning and criticism. According to the Messenger and Mail, the Papua New Guinea parliament held a three hour debate on the agreement.

Controversially, this agreement grants the exclusive right of the US authorities to exercise criminal jurisdiction over US personnel. Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Marape insists that this agreement does not mean that illegal activities within Papua New Guinea will be exempted. But Joseph Lelang, the leader of the opposition party in the PNG parliament, warned that vigilance must be maintained, "experience shows that Americans usually do not respect agreements and act according to them.".

This is an aerial photo taken on November 10, 2018 of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xuefei

Former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, O'Neill, stated that some of the contents of this agreement may hinder Papua New Guinea's sovereignty, and therefore must be thoroughly scrutinized. O'Neill specifically mentioned an example that had previously raised concerns.

In 2004, Papua New Guinea signed an agreement with Australia to strengthen cooperation. According to the agreement, over 200 Australian police officers and over 60 officials will be dispatched to Papua New Guinea to work together with local police, judicial institutions, and other departments. However, the relevant provisions in the agreement have sparked controversy - these Australians may not be subject to civil jurisdiction in Papua New Guinea when performing official duties or incidental activities. In May 2005, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ruled that the judicial exemption provisions for these Australians violated the Papua New Guinea Constitution. The Australian government subsequently withdrew its personnel to their home country.

Questioning the agreement is not beneficial for Papua New Guinea

"Why do we need to sign?"

O'Neill also questioned that he did not see the agreement including a plan to train PNG personnel, nor did he see how the so-called cooperation would promote PNG infrastructure construction. "There is nothing in the agreement that can be beneficial to PNG.". He couldn't help but ask, "Why did we sign this agreement?"

Charlie Benjamin, the Governor of Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, is very dissatisfied with this agreement. According to the Messenger Post, Benjamin roast that the contents of the relevant agreement clearly involve the naval base of Manus, but none of the parties ever consulted him on this.

"Manus was previously treated as an 'offshore refugee shelter' by Australia, but the promised hospital and road upgrade plan was never fulfilled," he gave an example.

Causing regional concerns

"South Pacific has become a gateway for US nuclear submarines"

When Antony Blinken signed the relevant agreement during his visit to PNG, students from many universities in PNG marched to protest that the agreement was inconsistent with PNG's foreign policy of "making friends widely and not making enemies". They believed that the people should know more details, and stressed that PNG needs more economic cooperation agreements that are conducive to development.

Jerry Sinjirok, former head of the Papua New Guinea Defense Forces, bluntly stated, "I hope this defense cooperation plan with the United States will not become a prelude to rationalizing the presence of US and Australian troops at the Manus Naval Base."

On July 11, 2018, in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, local people danced traditional dances to welcome the Chinese Navy's Peace Ark Hospital ship. Shen Jizhong

On the website of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, Anna Marie Schleich, a scholar at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, wrote that Pacific island countries have always emphasized their unwillingness to take sides between major powers and not want to be involved in regional conflicts.Secondly, this agreement between the United States and Papua New Guinea may lead to political differences among major Pacific island countries. Thirdly, the United States, Britain, and France continued to conduct nuclear tests in the Pacific region in the 1990s. Pacific island countries still have lingering concerns about this, and are increasingly concerned about the current US, UK, and Australia nuclear submarine plans and the passive militarization trend in the region, fearing that "South Pacific will become a channel for US nuclear submarines". This concern will also exacerbate the differences between Pacific island countries and the United States, UK, and Australia.