BLUF
In 2017, China offered to build Papua New Guinea (PNG), the tallest building in the country. But now, the tower—touted at the time as a symbol of ‘friendship between the two nations’—sits empty.Summary
KEY POINTS:
- The building, known as the Noble Centre, was built by a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
- The 23-storey tower has been deemed uninhabitable after discovering more than 70 defects, which regulators say threaten people's safety.
- People are beginning to question the quality and benefit of some Chinese aid and investment.
- PNG is at the centre of a geopolitical contest for influence between nations, including China, the US and Australia.
- With multiple countries seeking influence in PNG, some experts say there needs to be more oversight over the kind of investment and aid PNG accepts.
References
- PNG COLLECTION: ARTICLES RELATING TO PNG | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
- FEB 2021 Locals in Papua New Guinea speak out as China's proposed industrial fishing park sets off alarm bells in Canberra—ABC
- JAN 2022 Australia to fund PNG port upgrade amid strategic rivalry with China—AFR
- APR 2022 "symbol of friendship" becomes "illegal dangerous building": papua's "belt and road" commercial building now has 75 construction defects—SBS
Source Information:
- Article Source: ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
- Media Check: ABC News - Media Bias Fact Check (mediabiasfactcheck.com)
- RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC |
