Vanuatu parliament elects prime minister amid China-US rivalry

Vanuatu’s parliament elected
Sato Kilman as the nation’s new prime minister on Monday after a
court upheld a vote of no-confidence in his predecessor, who had
sought closer ties with US allies amid China-US rivalry in the
Pacific Islands.
Kilman, a former prime minister and leader of the People’s
Progressive Party, was elected prime minister 27/23 in a secret
ballot by lawmakers.
He told parliament he would review foreign policy so that it
benefitted Vanuatu more, and would seek new export markets.
Vanuatu was plunged into political crisis last month when
opposition parties lodged a no-confidence petition criticising
then leader Ishmael Kalsakau for actions including signing a
security pact with Australia.
Opposition lawmakers said the security pact with Australia
compromised Vanuatu’s “neutral” status and could jeopardise
development assistance from China, its biggest external
creditor.
The United States and its allies are seeking to dissuade
Pacific Islands nations from establishing security ties with
China, after it signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands.