Pence’s claim challenged

PLEASE allow me to share my views regarding Papua New Guinea’s involvement with Australia and the United States for the redevelopment of the Lombrum naval base.
United States Vice-President Mike Pence made some interesting and contradictory comments in his speech during the Apec CEOs’ Summit.
He said (smaller) economies in the Apec economies (in the Indo-Pacific) should refrain from taking excessive loans that in a way undermines their sovereignty.
On the contrary, Pence said the US will partner with its sheriff in the Pacific, Australia, and refurbish the Lombrum naval base on Manus Island.
This statement by the VP contradicts his other statement and I disagree.
PNG should understand that any military installation or development in our country undermines our sovereignty.
I am of the belief that the Apec CEOs’ Summit was an opportunity for member countries to foster relationships and create avenues for mutually benefitting economic cooperation in a conducive and friendly environment.
The VP’s statement only promotes anxiety and the mentality that there is imminent danger in the Indo-Pacific region.
On the other hand, the Australian PM chose his words very carefully, calling us family and wantok when delivering his speech.
How do we define the term family when the other family member has in place a lot of stringent measures for the other family member to seek employment or just to spend holiday and do shopping in the family member’s country?
PNG should take a neutral stand and be seen as an advocate of peace and love in the Indo-Pacific region.
A country that is open to all will invest in meaningful and friendly economic activities.
After all, we say PNG is a Christian country, so let’s practise what we preach.
By a long stretch of the imagination, the military installation on Manus will never benefit this country in any shape or form.
If war and disharmony is the only thing the US and Australia promote around the world, then take the fight to your own countries.
The last thing the people of Manus and PNG need is for Kim Jong-un, of North Korea, to lock in the coordinates for an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile to be delivered to Manus if he so chooses to reignite his passion for nuclear arms technology.
North Korea made that threat to Guam, so let’s learn from that.
The governor and the people of Manus should remain steadfast and be resilient in rejecting this unbeneficial project in its entirety.

Sideline Analyst
Lae