Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) will commit to defending each other from armed attacks as they face “emerging threats” to their security, a new defence treaty seen by the AFP news agency says.

The South Pacific Island nation celebrated its 50th anniversary of independence from Australia on Tuesday, with the treaty expected to be sealed on Wednesday.

The pact, seen as a strident push to counter China’s rising Pacific influence , will be signed by Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his PNG counterpart James Marape in the capital, Port Moresby.

The agreement, which also enables the nations’ citizens to serve in each other’s militaries, allows PNG nationals to gain Australian citizenship.

“Each Party recognises that an armed attack on either of the Parties within the Pa

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