Defending press freedom in the pacific is Australia's next challenge

The current visit by the PRC Foreign Minister to the Region armed with wide ranging co-operation agreements he wants up to ten of our regional neighbours to sign is just further evidence of how aggressive and determined China is.

Our agenda must be led by steps to strengthen parliamentary democracy. To that clearly needs to be added upholding press freedom.

As I have written on numerous occasions in this column, the China advance MUST be taken seriously. The Solomon Islands is just the first step.

The threat to press freedom is a new development, but one that should not come as a surprise.

It must be addressed with urgency., and with sophistication...before it is too late!