Kirsty Neham

SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Australia’s Labor government is putting more emphasis on its relations with Southeast Asia as well as climate change. This issue is crucial for the country’s Pacific neighbors. It will also be navigating its ties to a stronger China.

In recent years relations between Canberra and Beijing has deteriorated. China placed trade sanctions against Australian products as a result of policies and decisions like Australia’s request for an inquiry into COVID-19’s origins and the ban on Huawei 5G networks. Anthony Albanese, the new Prime Minister of China has promised that there would be no significant changes in China’s policy.

Albanese stated Monday that China’s relationship will “remain a challenging one” while Australia’s partnership with the U.S. “was our most important together with our relationships throughout the region and multilateral commitments”.

Albanese will fly to Tokyo with Penny Wong as the foreign minister, and they’ll be subjected to a test of diplomatic skills.

Wong was born in Malaysia and is Australia’s first overseas-born foreign secretary.

Wong indicated in email comments that Australia will make new commitments regarding Southeast Asia, the Pacific and the Quad to the Quad meeting.

We have understood Southeast Asia’s importance for a long time. She said that even though we all have our own challenges, it is clear that the countries of Southeast Asia face many common problems. “We need to all work together to solve the problems of regional order and pandemic recovery. President Widodo from Indonesia said it directly to Parliament: climate change.

Labor said it would also like to collaborate with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Ukraine will be on the Quad’s agenda. It will also include stability in Indo-Pacific, Pacific island nations and climate change.

Financial Times reports that the Quad plans to launch a program to clamp down on illegal fishing from the Pacific. This will be done using satellite tracking technology.

Labor has also pledged to increase aerial surveillance in the exclusive economic areas of Pacific islands nations to reduce illegal fishing’s annual loss of $150 million.

Leaders from Pacific Islands have responded rapidly to Labor’s new government and welcomed Labor’s commitment to more climate funding. This is a promise that Labor made to address the need for greater Australia-Pacific outreach, especially as China has increased its power.

Wang Yi (China’s foreign minister) is scheduled to arrive in Solomon Islands by mid-week. He will be signing a security pact, which has agitated the Australian election campaign and many other agreements, including one regarding fisheries. Reuters did not reach out to Solomon Islands’ government or Chinese foreign ministry.

China’s state-owned newspaper Global Times said Monday Albanese’s participation at the Quad was a test. “Especially on whether it can get rid of any shadow of previous.” [Prime Minister]Scott Morrison’s anti China strategy

Richard McGregor from the Lowy Institute, a senior analysis, stated that Albanese is unlikely to reestablish Australia’s relations and friendship with China.

He said, “The Quad will strengthen those countries’ tough China policy, then his second job, the Pacific Islands Forum which most likely follows Wang Yi’s sweep throughout the region,”. It is not about making love or kissing.

Although a date is yet to be set, Pacific Island Forum leaders will meet soon. The implications of Solomon Islands’ security pact are a major issue in light of rising tensions between Washington, Beijing, and the Pacific.