China. First Daru. Then Queensland?
06 June 2021
CHIPS MACKELLAR
WARWICK - The expansion of China’s influence into the Solomons, Vanuatu, Samoa and Kiribati is of increasing concern to us in Australia.
But it is as nothing compared to the mischief to happen if the Chinese move into Daru.
This is because Daru - together with its mud and mangrove neighbour, Bristow - is the only island in the Torres Strait which is part of Papua New Guinea.
Every other island is Australian territory.
Thus any so-called Chinese Torres Strait ‘fishing project’ based in Daru is bound to trespass into Australian waters or, God forbid, into nearby Australian islands.
What if the Chinese were to spread a bit of ‘goodwill’ on Darnley Island, or on Mer?
Or establish a ‘temporary’ base on Rennel or Masig or Poruma?
Would anyone be there to stop them?
What if the ‘goodwill’ was so good and so willing that the islanders wanted the Chinese to stay?
These islands are part of Queensland.
Are we prepared for Chinese expansion in the Pacific to also expand into Queensland?
Because if we do nothing now, this could happen.
Comments