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Reuters
Reuters
Environment
By Kirsty Needham

Pacific Islands defence ministers meet in Tonga to boost 'interoperability'

Tonga Richard Marles Pacific Island Australia China Papua New Guinea South Pacific
FILE PHOTO: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks as he and his Japanese counterpart Nobuo Kishi (not pictured) attend a joint news conference at the Ministry of Defence in Tokyo, Japan June 15, 2022. Shuji Kajiyama/Pool via REUTERS

South Pacific defence ministers will meet in Tonga on Tuesday, with Australia seeking a closer military relationship with the three island nations that have defence forces to counter China's security push in the region.

Australia's defence minister Richard Marles was due to arrive in Tonga on Monday ahead of the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meeting this week, held annually to discuss regional security challenges.

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