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He said ever-tightening “closeness” between Russia and China would have significant ramifications for the region.

It is Australia’s position within the Indo-Pacific,along with Japan,Korea and New Zealand,which has given it a place at the table over the coming days,as the United States and Britain in particular send a message that the war in Ukraine has not detracted from Western nations’ focus on China.

The US,UK,Australia,New Zealand and Japan launched a fresh initiative to help Pacific Island nations at the weekend in an effort to increase their presence in a maritime region that is increasingly targeted by China. The “Partners in Blue Pacific” came after several days of talks with Pacific Island countries. The scheme aims to help small island nations – such as Fiji,Palau,Samoa and the Marshall Islands – tackle issues from climate change to illegal fishing,but also signals a united effort to counter Chinese initiatives.

European nations have become increasingly uneasy with Chinese investments in new modern military equipment and desire to control critical infrastructure,forcing the NATO boss to address the issue,to develop a stronger stance.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week said China was “openly contesting the rules-based international order”.

“We don’t regard China as an adversary,but we need to realise that the rise of China makes it important for us also to address that,” Stoltenberg said.

It was a marked shift from the summit in Brussels last year,where Stoltenberg said while China’s military build-up,growing influence and coercive behaviour posed some challenges to the alliance’s security,there remained opportunities to engage with Beijing,especially on “issues like climate change and arms control”.

China has repeatedly criticised Western sanctions,including those against Russia,while blaming the Ukraine crisis on NATO’s eastward expansion.

China’s President Xi Jinping warned last week against “expanding military alliances”,calling on countries around the world to overcome difficulties together.

Group of Seven leaders,meeting at an alpine castle an hour south of Munich on Sundayalso moved to address China’s “coercive economic practices,” which have become even more aggressive in recent years.

They launched a new infrastructure initiative,pledging to raise $US600 billion ($846 billion) in private and public funds over five years to finance infrastructure in developing countries and counter China’s multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project.

French President Emmanuel Macron has previously warned that NATO should not “scatter ourselves” and form a “bias” with its relationship with China,while diplomats from Lithuania and Portugal have also stated their apprehension about focusing on China because NATO does not share any immediate borders with the country,unlike with Russia.

At the summit,Albanese will meet in person with Stoltenberg,Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen,as well as AUKUS partners,US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address both meetings virtually,mapping out his battle plan to counter Russia and the security assistance his country needs to carry it out.

Albanese has hintedhe will visit Ukraine before flying home,but details of any such plans are secret and subject to the ongoing security situation in Kyiv.

Cut through the noise of federal politics with news,views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley.Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.

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