Commonwealth official warns on China debt as leaders skip forum

Australia has a chance to regain support in the Pacific after being “asleep on the watch” while China extended its reach, the head of the Commonwealth’s business forum has declared on the eve of a key meeting that is tipped to tighten alliances among member states.

The Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council chairman, Lord Marland, said Australia was in a good position to counter Chinese influence because of its shared interests with many of the 56 nations attending the Commonwealth gathering in Samoa.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to arrive in the Samoan capital of Apia on Thursday afternoon for two days of meetings with leaders including United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with negotiators hoping to produce an agreement to intensify action on climate change.

Security is also on the agenda, with Albanese tipped to discuss a policing agreement that demonstrates Australian support for Pacific nations.

Lord Marland, a Conservative Party minister and trade envoy before he took the reins at the Commonwealth’s business network a decade ago, said he was seeing stronger action by Australia in the Pacific after China had gained ground over many years.

“What has struck me about being here is how Australia – and, indeed, New Zealand – are now committing to really supporting these islands in a much more positive way than they have in the past,” he said.

“They’ve kind of been asleep on the watch and allowed the Chinese to come in and establish very strong positions.

“And it’s no question that these islands would much rather have the support of the Australians and the Chinese. There are much more shared interests – and there’s the Commonwealth relationship, among other things.”

About 3,000 delegates are expected to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the Samoan capital on Friday and Saturday, where King Charles III will preside over the gathering for the first time as sovereign and head of the Commonwealth.