New US Military Bases in Papua New Guinea and ASEAN
The US Army will have unfettered access to PNG’s territorial waters and airspace following a security cooperation agreement scheduled to be signed on about May 20, Radio New Zealand reported.
According to the radio station, which has a draft document in its possession, under the agreement, which is expected to be signed soon by a senior US administration official, “the United States will provide its armed forces unhindered access to the territorial waters and airspace of this Pacific nation.” “Aircraft, vehicles, and vessels operated by or on behalf of the US Armed Forces shall be free to enter, exit, and move within PNG’s territory and territorial waters and shall be exempt from any inspection conducted without the consent of the American authorities.”
The text also states that the US military, for whom the document provides full immunity from any claim by the New Guinean authorities, will be given access to all airports and seaports in the country, including the military. “These facilities can be used for a variety of activities, including visits by government and military officials, military exercises, maneuvers and transit, as well as refueling, repair and maintenance of aircraft and ships. In addition, they will be permitted to house personnel and to prepare and store equipment, supplies and other facilities of the US Armed Forces.”
Such qualitative military interaction between Washington and Port Moresby undoubtedly marks the next stage in the active militarization of the Pacific. At the same time, Washington’s presentation of its move as a response to China’s security cooperation agreement with another country in the region, the Solomon Islands, does not stand up to criticism, as the Chinese project does not provide for construction of military bases or placement of its military contingents on the territory of the island state.
In Papua New Guinea, according to the radio station, there is growing doubt that such a pact would comply with the country’s constitution and force Port Moresby to “participate in the militarization of the region with the AUKUS alliance.” However, as the examples of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines show, it is unlikely at this stage that public opinion will be able to oppose these plans in any way.
However, it would be no less interesting to hear the voice of one of the indisputable authorities among the ASEAN states – Indonesia, which holds the presidency of the Association this year. The fact is that the US is deploying its new bases not somewhere far away from the republic, but right on the border with the rebellious Indonesian province of Papua. Does Jakarta, which is well known for its intransigent position on the inadmissibility of militarization of the APAC to the detriment of the region’s security, realize that the appearance of US military facilities causes irreparable (and maybe even fatal) damage to the security architecture of the region, already bruised by the American-centric AUCUS and Quad activities, and to the role of ASEAN as the organization that balances and restrains the interests of great powers in the APAC to avoid a large-scale destructive conflict between the US and China?
