China funding white elephant infrastructure projects in the Pacific, says Australian minister
Canberra’s international development chief says region ‘full of useless buildings’ as Beijing increases its influence through aid and loans
China is funding “white elephant” infrastructure projects in the Pacific at unfavourable terms, a senior Australia minister said on Wednesday in comments that could fuel further tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
Friction between the two countries grew last month after Australia singled out China as a focus of concern when it proposed laws on foreign interference, drawing a furious response from Beijing.
China has been forging closer links with Pacific island nations, with Australia’s Lowy Institute estimating it provided US$1.78 billion in aid, including concessional loans, for projects in the region between 2006 to 2016.
Australia’s International Development Minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells said Beijing’s influence in the region was clearly growing, but criticised its development assistance as resulting in “white elephants”.
“You’ve got the Pacific full of these useless buildings which nobody maintains, which are basically white elephants,” she told The Australian newspaper.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang slammed the remarks during a regular press briefing, calling them “full of ignorance and prejudice”.
