The great value of a small island nation

Both Tuvalu and Nauru are small and sparsely populated island nations in the region. But the significance of the agreements is very strategic and important for Canberra, in that it determines that Australia has the right to jointly decide and veto any agreement that the two island nations sign with other partners in the world . It is immediately obvious that China is targeted and loses the most. For both these island nations, Australia has been very successful in becoming an alternative partner to China. Until now, such a veto right is very rare in cooperation agreements between countries.

PHOTO: The US Department of the Environment's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program.

This model of cooperation with Tuvalu and Nauru is Canberra's latest measure to respond to Beijing's efforts to conquer the South Pacific islands. The first and most important success for China is the cooperation agreement with the Solomon Islands. In competing with Beijing in this region, Canberra has a distinct advantage because it is geographically closer to the island nations and has past relationships and connections. If only it were willing to "open its wallet" like China, Australia could develop its advantages and advantages even more prominently.

Small island states are now of great value to Australia because the South Pacific is so important to the future of the entire Indo-Pacific region. Canberra needs to build its greatest influence in the small island states to become the architect of the larger region.