$600 million deal to help PNG's NRL team bid may hinge on promise to avoid security pact with China
www.abc.net.au
A potential deal that would see Australia provide $600 million to help set up an NRL side in Port Moresby includes an assurance no security deal with China is signed by the Pacific nation, the ABC can reveal.

In short:

The future of an NRL team based in Papua New Guinea could be dependent on a promise from the Pacific nation not to increase security or defence ties with Beijing.

A potential deal that would see Australia provide $600 million to set up a side in Port Moresby includes an assurance no security deal with China is signed by the Pacific nation.

What’s next?

Australia and PNG are nearly ready to sign the deal to create the NRL team, which the Australian government has described as a way to bring the two nations closer together through soft diplomacy.