Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat confirmed a bilateral agreement with China, the so-called Namele Agreement, will only be made public after receiving “clearance from Beijing.” This admission reveals the extent of foreign influence over the island nation’s governance, even as its political class navigates a complex web of external security and economic deals.
Australia and Vanuatu formally signed the Nakamal Agreement, a bilateral security and economic treaty, on Monday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Vanuatu counterpart, Jotham Napat, finalized the pact in the Australian capital, nine months after an earlier draft was rejected by Vanuatu’s government.
That initial rejection, occurring about 1 year ago, stemmed from Vanuatu’s concerns that the deal would limit its ability to attract vital infrastructure investment. The current agreement, however, still places significant constraints on the nation’s autonomy regarding critical assets.
Under the terms of the Nakamal Agreement, Vanuatu has committed not to allow any foreign military base or infrastructure within its territory. It will also keep its critical infrastructure free from militarization, foreign interference, or unauthorized access, according to a government statement.
Crucially, Vanuatu will consult with Australia when considering third-party engagement in its critical infrastructure. Yet, the agreement notably lacks the power of veto that Australia had originally proposed, a subtle but significant detail.
Who Decided
Prime Minister Albanese stated the agreement “reflects and confirms Australia’s role as Vanuatu’s largest and most comprehensive economic, security and development partner.” He described this as a responsibility Australia takes seriously.
Prime Minister Napat echoed this sentiment, saying the pact “reaffirms our shared commitment to continuing and strengthening the comprehensive partnership between our two countries, founded on mutual respect, trust and our common vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific.”
This Nakamal Agreement is one of several Australia is either negotiating or has already struck with regional neighbors. The stated goal is to prevent China from gaining further security influence across the Pacific region.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, expressed concern that the agreement might be specifically targeted at Beijing. Guo stated, “We hope that cooperation between relevant countries and Pacific Island countries will contribute to the development and stability of the island region, not target any third party or be used as a tool for geopolitical rivalry.”
The Cost of Influence
Vanuatu has also committed to prioritizing policing cooperation with members of the Pacific Islands Forum, an 18-country and territory collection that includes Australia. However, the agreement does not explicitly exclude Chinese police from operating within the nation’s borders.
Chinese police personnel frequently visit the nation of 350,000 people, despite China not maintaining a permanent police presence there.
Furthermore, Vanuatu has agreed to approach Australia, New Zealand, and France first in response to major natural disasters. This provision effectively cedes primary response coordination to foreign powers.
Financially, Australia had proposed providing Vanuatu with 500 million Australian dollars ($344 million) over a decade under the original draft of the agreement. The precise cost of the latest agreement will be made public by December.
A Web of Pacts
Prime Minister Napat has previously described the Namele Agreement with China as a “comprehensive development cooperation” deal, not a security pact. Vanuatu has already received substantial loans and aid from China, funding buildings, wharves, and other critical infrastructure projects.
Napat insisted on the transparency of his government, stating, “There is nothing to hide. Our government is transparent and I am so grateful that the Prime Minister (Albanese) has also given me the clearance to share with them (China) the Nakamal Agreement.” This statement, however, stands in stark contrast to the requirement for “clearance from Beijing” before the Namele Agreement can be released.
China, when questioned at its Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, did not indicate whether it would reveal the details of its own agreement with Vanuatu.