Papua New Guinea’s leader has declared a new military alliance with Australia is a “construct of peace and not of war” as he and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dodged questions about China following a formal signing of the defence treaty in Canberra.

Under the sweeping Pukpuk Treaty, up to one in six members of the Australian Defence Force could eventually be from Papua New Guinea, with both countries agreeing to “act to meet the common danger” if either faces an armed attack.

Last month both prime ministers had hoped to formalise the deal in Port Moresby, but the move was delayed when PNG’s cabinet could not assemble a quorum because of celebrations for the 50th anniversary of independence.

“It is Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years and only the third in our history,

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