Xi Never Asked for Military Base, Papua New Guinea Leader Says
- PM Marape says meeting with China focused on economy and trade
- US, China are jockeying for influence in the South Pacific
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has never expressed interest in a military base in Papua New Guinea, the nation’s leader said, amid growing concerns among US allies about Beijing’s security interests in the Pacific.
Speaking to Bloomberg at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister James Marape said the two men had only discussed “what they could do for business for us” during a 20-minute conversation on Friday.