Australia Employs Tough Tactics to Counter China in the Pacific, Reports Reuters

By Colin Packham

SYDNEY – Australia is set to increase its foreign aid efforts to promote rugby league in the Pacific region, a move aimed at countering China’s expanding influence. This initiative, championed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, seeks to leverage the region’s enthusiasm for the sport through funding coaching clinics and exhibition matches on various Pacific islands that China is actively engaging.

"A senior rugby league official, who wishes to remain anonymous, indicated that the prime minister regards rugby league as an important part of his strategy to enhance Australia’s soft power in light of China’s growing presence in the Pacific," the official noted.

Australia is asserting its interests in the Pacific, aiming to strengthen diplomatic and trade relationships as it navigates China’s attempts at influence through infrastructure investments and cultural diplomacy.

While China’s support has helped table tennis gain traction in countries like Papua New Guinea, the popularity of rugby league is expected to remain unaffected. During a friendly match in PNG in 2016, the fervor for the sport was evident as thousands lined the streets to welcome the Australian team.

Fans in the region closely follow their favorite players in Australia, where individuals of Pacific Islander or Maori descent constituted a significant portion of the National Rugby League (NRL) rosters in 2017.

Australia’s Pacific Outreach Programme, developed in collaboration with the NRL, will extend its reach to smaller yet strategically significant islands, including the Cook Islands, Niue, and Vanuatu, according to Frank Puletua, a senior manager at the NRL.

These three nations are part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to enhance global connectivity through extensive investments in infrastructure. The NRL already operates programs in other countries like Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, all of which are involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

In response to China’s investments, Australia has pledged up to A$3 billion in low-interest infrastructure loans and grants to Pacific neighbors, though this new fund is anticipated to launch only in July. Unable to compete with China’s financial capabilities and its willingness to fund certain projects, Australia is focusing on strengthening cultural ties.

The initiatives include expanding a Pacific jobs program that allows individuals from specific island nations to work in Australia. Furthermore, during a visit to the Pacific, Morrison promised to ease restrictions on Kava imports, a beverage integral to the cultural fabric of Pacific island communities.

Morrison also shared plans to cover the travel expenses for a Fijian rugby league team to compete in Australia’s national competition, which already features a team from Papua New Guinea. Additionally, the NRL aims to host a series of pre-season games in the Pacific.

Morrison highlighted the significance of shared interests in sports during his visit to Suva, saying, "Our shared passion has practical implications for the relationship between our countries."