A PNG official said Marape and Justin Tkatchenko were determined not to derail Albanese’s trip,which included spending two nights camping in remote jungle villages,so they sent discussions on the policing pact back to lower-level officials for further workshopping.

“It hasn’t been put to rest;it has been shelved,” the PNG official said.

In a relief to Australian officials,Wang and Tkatchenko instead signed five memorandums of understanding relating to trade,disaster relief and information technology during the visit with no reference to policing or security.

Tkatchenko caused a stir when he revealed in January that China had approached PNG with an offer to assist its police force with training,equipment and surveillance technology.

Albanese at the time acknowledged leaders made their own decisions,but said he was determined to ensure Australia remains PNG’s “security partner of choice”.

Mihai Sora,the project director of the Australia-PNG network at the Lowy Institute and a former diplomat in the region,said he understood the draft policing deal with Beijing had “overwhelming support” within Marape’s cabinet.

“It’s remarkable Australia was able to deflect this at the last minute given the odds were stacked against it,” Sora said.

“China is looking for every opportunity to expand its role as a security actor in the Pacific and this will be an ongoing strategic challenge for Australia.”

In February,US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and ResourcesRichard Verma urged PNG to turn down such an offer,saying that “the Chinese commitment in defence or investment comes with a high cost”.

The US later cautioned Pacific Islands against taking assistance from Chinese security forces after it was revealed that Chinese police were working in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati.

In December,Albanese and Marape signed a sweeping $200 million security agreement to boost PNG’s policing and national security services.

This included $110 million will to establish a new police recruit and investigations centre in Port Moresby,which was the scene of deadly riots in January.

The Chinese government last year tried to encompass 10 Pacific Island nations in a single,region-wide security treaty but was rebuffed and now seeks one-on-one deals with countries.

A senior government source,speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters,told this masthead earlier this year that Beijing was “incredibly active” in courting Pacific nations and had improved its strategy to gain a diplomatic foothold in the region through policing agreements.

“They’re learning from their mistakes and getting smarter at what they are doing,” the source said.

James Batley,Australia’s former top diplomat to Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste,said “China is clearly working hard to strike security and policing deals across the Pacific”.

“They are working to undermine our influence in the Pacific,and Western interests in general,” he said.

Australian officials were relieved last week when Manasseh Sogavare,who asSolomon Islands prime minister struck a controversial security agreement with Beijing,stepped down from power following national elections.

He was replaced by former foreign ministerJeremiah Manele,who is regarded as friendly to Beijing but less volatile and antagonistic to Australia than Sogavare.

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