Vanuatu remains open to signing a wide-ranging deal with Australia but insists on respect for its sovereignty and will not be subjected to pressure or 'bullying' from larger nations, according to internal affairs minister Andrew Napuat.
The $500m Nakamal agreement was not signed last month as hoped, amid concerns from Vanuatu that it could block other countries from providing infrastructure funding. Weeks later, Vanuatu announced plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with China to deepen policing cooperation.
Napuat stressed that the two deals are separate, but the stalled pact has dealt a blow to Canberra's efforts to counter Beijing's influence in the Pacific. He acknowledged Australia's role as a major player but said 'this big partner must also respect the wishes of smaller nations like Vanuatu'.
'These days are over,' Napuat said, referring to external pressures. 'We want the agreement to genuinely represent what we envision for our people tomorrow.' He added that leaders are open to signing as soon as possible, but the deal must not be 'an indirect statement of neocolonialism'.
A spokesperson for Australian foreign minister Penny Wong said Australia 'firmly respects Vanuatu's sovereignty' and that Pacific security is a shared responsibility. Meanwhile, Professor Joanne Wallis of the University of Adelaide noted that Australia remains Vanuatu's major security partner, but getting the Nakamal agreement signed was 'always a long shot'.
