Australia and Fiji have signed a new bilateral defense alliance in a second major diplomatic win within a year for Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese against Chinese influence in the South Pacific.

Australia and Vanuatu have signed a long-awaited bilateral security and economic treaty that prevents China creating a military base on the South Pacific island nation.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been unable to clinch a defense treaty with Papua New Guinea a week after he failed to land a security pact with another South Pacific island neighbor, Vanuatu.