Beware China’s ‘false promise’ with Papua New Guinea security deal, US official warns

Verma, in Australia last week after visiting the South Pacific, said it was a competition for influence in the resource-rich region, and that “we have to compete aggressively”.

His comments came ahead of an address by PNG Prime Minister James Marape to the Australian parliament later this week. PNG has previously said Australia and the US were its security partners, while China was an important economic partner.

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“We would like to see people choose security arrangement or investment opportunities or advanced connectivity with countries that play by the rules, that live up to the international standards,” Verma said.

“China has shown that it is not doing that. China has shown that it’s not interested in the modern rules-based order.”

He warned about the “false promise of authoritarian regimes” and said countries in investment arrangements with China have found that it can be a “debt trap”.

“There are other options out there,” Verma said.