US Official Urges Papua New Guinea to Reject Chinese Security Deal

A senior U.S. state department official urged Papua New Guinea(PNG) to turn down China’s offer of a potential security pact, warning the Pacific nation that
any security guarantee with Beijing comes with consequences and costs.
“We’ve seen that the Chinese commitment in defence or investment comes with a high cost. That’s what we’d say to PNG,” United States Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma told the Sydney Morning Herald in an interview published on Monday.
Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkachenko told Reuters last week that it was in early talks with China on a potential security deal. China has offered to assist PNG’s police force with training, equipment and surveillance technology, Tkachenko said.
The U.S. and ally Australia for decades have seen the Pacific as their sphere of influence, and are seeking to deter the island nations from forming security ties with China, after Beijing signed a security pact with Solomon Islands in 2022.