This week in Australian foreign affairs: NZ PM Hipkins to visit Australia next week; Wong’s Press Club address; Wong travels to New Caledonia and Tuvalu; diplomatic postings; and more.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will welcome New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to Australia from 22-23 April as a guest of the Australian Government. The trip will be Hipkins’ second to Australia since becoming Prime Minister and coincides with Australia and New Zealand celebrating 80 years of diplomatic representation, 50 years of the Trans-Tasman Travel Agreement, and 40 years of the Closer Economic Relations Free Trade Agreement. Albanese said that he is “delighted to welcome Prime Minister Hipkins back to Australia for his second visit as leader” and that he “look[s] forward to continuing to work [together] to strengthen the close ties and bonds of kinship between [the] two countries.”

On 17 April, Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong addressed the National Press Club on “Australian interests in a regional balance of power.” She referred to the present “combination of factors and the risk of miscalculation” as “compris[ing] the most confronting circumstances in decades” and the reason why she is “so steadfast in refusing to engage in speculation about regional flashpoints, whether the Himalayas, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula or anywhere else.” On Taiwan specifically, Wong referred to “much frenzied discussion in political and media circles over timelines and scenarios” as “the most dangerous of parlour games” and emphasised that “a war over Taiwan would be catastrophic for all.” She called for “the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues through dialogue without the threat or use of force of coercion” and emphasised that “our job is to lower the heat on any potential conflict, while increasing pressure on others to do the same.” On the bilateral relationship with China, she noted “the reality that China is going to keep being China” and that “the Albanese Government will be calm and consistent, and continue to do as we have since coming to office: cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, manage our differences wisely, and above all else, engage in and vigorously pursue our own national interest.” In relation to the Pacific, Wong stated that Australia is “realistic about what is happening in the Pacific” and “know[s] that things won’t go back to how they were before”, emphasising that “we want Australia to be a partner of choice for the countries of our region. Partners, not patriarchs.” She noted on Southeast Asia that Australia does not share the view that the region is “a mere theatre for great power competition”, because this view “strips Southeast Asian nations – and the enduring, central institution of ASEAN – of their influence, dynamism and agency.” Wong reiterated the Government’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and noted that “by the first anniversary of our Government, [she] will have visited every country in Southeast Asia as foreign minister, except Myanmar.” She concluded by emphasising that “we are not hostages to history” and “we decide what to do with the present”, noting that “our decision is to use all elements of our national power to shape the world in our interests, and to shape it for the better.”

Wong travelled to New Caledonia and Tuvalu for the first time as Foreign Minister this week. The trip marks her tenth visit to the Pacific as Foreign Minister, and fulfils the Government’s commitment to visit Australia’s 17 fellow Pacific Islands Forum members. Wong noted that “Australia’s longstanding relationship with New Caledonia spans people, economic and commercial ties, environmental protection, as well as strong defence cooperation with French authorities in New Caledonia.” While in New Caledonia, she met with the High Commissioner of the French Republic in New Caledonia Louis Le Franc and President of the Government of New Caledonia Louis Mapou. She addressed the Congress of New Caledonia, the first Australian minister to do so, where she discussed climate change, France’s role in the Pacific, and regional cooperation. In Tuvalu, she also met with acting Prime Minister Ampelosa Tehulu and his cabinet colleagues, to discuss “Australia’s ongoing partnership and development support for Tuvalu’s social, economic and security priorities.”

On 18 April, Wong announced the appointment of four career public servants to lead Australian posts in Austria, Kiribati, Singapore and the Netherlands. Ian Biggs will be Australia’s next Ambassador to Austria, as well as being accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, and being Australia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Vienna, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where he will also serve on the IAEA Board of Governors. In addition, Karen Bray will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to the Republic of Kiribati, Allastar Cox will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to Singapore, and Dr Greg French will be Australia’s next Ambassador to the Netherlands.

Minister for Defence Richard Marles noted on 16 April that Australia will host “the largest ever” Exercise Talisman Sabre from 22 July to 4 August this year, with approximately 30,000 military personnel participating. Talisman Sabre “is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and United States military” and this year confirmed participating partner nations include Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, France, United Kingdom, Canada and Germany. The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will also attend as observers. Marles noted that “Talisman Sabre reflects a shared commitment to enduring relationships between trusted partners, and a stable Indo-Pacific through an upholding of the rules-based order” and that the Exercise “is a practical demonstration of our enduring Alliance with the United States, through deepening cooperation in training and innovation.”

Minister for Trade Don Farrell travelled to Vietnam and the Philippines on 16 April. While in Vietnam, he co-chaired the Third Australia-Vietnam Economic Partnership Meeting with Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Nguyen Chi Dung in Hanoi on 17 April. The Ministers “reiterated their mutual commitment to a strong and ambitious bilateral economic relationship” and acknowledged the 50^th year of bilateral diplomatic relations. They also “reaffirmed the strategic importance of the Economic Partnership Meeting in the bilateral economic architecture, providing a valuable opportunity to work together to pursue trade, investment, the clean energy transition, and development opportunities for both our countries.” Farrell also met with the Prime Minister and other senior government officials “to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional interests.” In the Philippines, Farrell will meet with the Secretaries of Finance, Trade and Industry, and the National Economic Development Agency “to identify opportunities for strengthening our economic ties, particularly in mining, the visitor economy, education, and renewable energy.” He referred to Vietnam and the Philippines as being “among the top emerging markets for international visitation to Australia” and that Australia “hope[s] our strong bilateral relationships with both nations will see continued growth in two-way travel.”

On 18 April, Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres addressed the 12^th Australia Solomon Islands Business Forum in Brisbane. He emphasised that “Australia values our position as Solomon Islands’ security and development partner of choice” and that the two nations’ “economic, trade and investment ties are also strong but do have the potential to deepen and grow as we work together on our shared challenges and opportunities, including in the security, health and education sectors.” Ayres also noted that “Australia has a deep and longstanding relationship with Solomon Islands based on mutual respect and shared interests” and acknowledged that “building a stronger Pacific family is only possible if we recognise the mistakes of the past.” He concluded by stating that “there are exciting opportunities for Australian businesses in Solomon Islands” and that the Government “sees Solomon Islands as a long-term partner [and that he knows that] the Australian business sector does too.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy announced on 14 April that the Australian Government will provide an additional $8 million to support the Vanuatu Government with its ongoing response to Tropical Cyclones Judy and Kevin. The funds “will provide immediate assistance to vulnerable households through support for livelihoods and food security, to be delivered through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership and the Vanuatu Skills Partnership.” Support will also go towards Vanuatu’s “early recovery priorities in the education and health sectors, including repairs to health facilities and schools and the replacement of curriculum materials and equipment lost to the cyclones.” Conroy noted that “Australia is proud to stand with Vanuatu during this challenging time, to listen and to support Vanuatu’s response to these devastating cyclones – now and into the future.”

On 19 April, Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Filippo Grandi, during the first visit to Australia by the High Commissioner in more than a decade. The pair discussed “Australia’s long-term partnership with UNHCR and ongoing commitment to contribute to humanitarian and resettlement efforts in response to global displacement crises.” Giles also “reinforced Australia’s commitment to be a global leader in finding sustainable solutions for refugees and displaced persons, and to look beyond traditional responses by championing complementary resettlement pathways.”

Isabella Keith is a weekly columnist for Australian Outlook. She is also a Research Assistant, Sessional Academic, and Honours student in Law at the Australian National University, with a focus on international law. Isabella attended the AIIA #NextGen study tour to South Korea last year, and was also a delegate to the AIIA’s Australia-Korea-New Zealand and Australia-United States-Japan Policy Forums. She can be found on Twitter here.

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