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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

Samoa’s PM says China’s expectation of Pacific-wide deal ‘something we could not agree to’

In this photo taken from video supplied by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, right, holds a joint press conference with Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa in Apia, Samoa, Thursday, June 2, 2022
Samoa’s PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa also welcomed the new Australian Labor government’s climate policy, saying the country was ‘greatly encouraged’ by it. Photograph: AP

Samoa’s prime minister has suggested it was unreasonable for China to expect a Pacific trade and security deal to be rushed through this week, as she warmly welcomed the new Australian government’s climate policy.

The Australian minister for foreign affairs, Penny Wong, announced during a joint press conference in Samoa on Thursday that Australia would provide it with a new Guardian-class patrol vessel to replace the one that was grounded last year.

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