‘Things aren’t going back’: Australia braces for step-up in China’s Pacific push

Despite initial relief over island nations' rejection of security and economic pact, senior government figure says reprieve could be only temporary

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The Australian government is bracing for China to step up its push to expand influence in the Pacific, with a senior figure privately conceding Canberra has a lot of work to do to regain lost trust and strengthen regional unity.

Despite initial relief at a decision by Pacific island countries to defer a sweeping 10-country security and economic pact proposed by China, the Australian government now believes this may be only a temporary reprieve.