Papua New Guinea Backs Creation Of Multinational Pacific Police Force

Flags of the Pacific Islands Forum member nations hang outside the convention centre during the group's meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga (Credit: AFP)

Papua New Guinea said Wednesday it supported the creation of a multinational Pacific police force, a landmark proposal pushed by Australia that could significantly blunt China's regional ambitions.

Under the so-called Pacific Policing Initiative, a multinational force would be drawn from across the Pacific islands and based in northern Australia.