Nauru, with a population of 12 000, announced an investment deal with the little-known China Rural Revitalization and Development Corp earlier this month.
The leaders of Nauru and Australia announced a treaty in December in which Australia pledged A$100 million in budget support and A$40 million for security, and gained a veto over Chinese involvement in critical areas including Nauru’s security, banking, and telecommunications.
The treaty has been ratified by Nauru, but not Australia, because its parliament was dissolved for months for a national election.
“It’s important that we move forward and ratify as quickly as possible,” Mark Tattersall, an official with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told an Australian parliament committee examining the treaty on Monday.
An earlier press release from Nauru’s government said the Chinese company would develop the renewable energy, phosphate industry, fisheries, water, agriculture, transportation and health sectors.
Australian diplomats had asked China and Nauru about the deal because of concern it could trigger provisions in Australia’s security treaty, Tattersall said.
