No plans for Chinese military base, says Vanuatu

Vanuatu said on Tuesday that it has no plans to allow China to set up a military base on its territory. The statement came after a report suggested that Beijing was pushing the proposal, sparking concern in Australia and New Zealand. The Sydney Morning Herald said China had approached the Pacific nation about the possibility. The move could potentially upset the delicate strategic balance in the region. Vanuatu Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu rebuffed the claim, stating: “No one in the Vanuatu government has ever talked about a Chinese military base in Vanuatu of any sort,” AFP reported.