Ahead of the 2018 APEC Forum in PNG , the Morrison government announced increased defence co-operation with Pacific nations including a plan to jointly develop a naval base on Manus Island with Papua New Guinea and a " pivot to the Pacific " involving the establishment of a $ 2 billion infrastructure bank for the Pacific to be known as the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility , to issue grants and long-term loans for projects such as telecommunications , energy , transport and water development . Morrison also pledged to open diplomatic missions in Palau , the Marshall Islands , French Polynesia , Niue and the Cook Islands . The " pivot to the Pacific " has been read as a way of undermining Chinese influence in the region
2018 APEC Forum in PNG
APEC Papua New Guinea 2018
Morrison Government