Papua New Guinea will gain its own team in Australia’s rugby league in a soft diplomacy deal announced Thursday linked to limiting Chinese influence in the South Pacific. The Australian government will spend 600 million Australian dollars ($380 million) over a decade to add a team from its nearest neighbor to the

Australia pledges A$600 million to help Papua New Guinea (PNG) enter the National Rugby League, aligning this with a security arrangement. The partnership aims to bolster strategic ties amidst China's growing influence in the Pacific.