The Belt and Road Initiative has become associated with a geopolitical“China threat”discourse in the South Pacific.Are China and Australia，the dominant regional player in the South Pacific，driven by geopolitical imperatives to compete for power or do their different geopolitical needs provide opportunity for cooperation that is mutually beneficial and manages risks in the region？ Supposed Chinese“threats”as well as risks to China are examined，including fears of a military base in Vanuatu，Chinese debt-funded projects in Tonga and closer economic cooperation with Papua New Guinea.A geopolitical analysis concludes that it is feasible for Australia to meet its geopolitical imperatives if its regional security leadership can be maintained.A geopolitical analysis of China in the South Pacific concludes that China is unlikely to seek regional security leadership if it can ensure access to trade routes and markets.If Australia could move beyond geopolitical rhetoric，it should therefore be possible for Australia to partner with China to support sustainable development，mitigate risks and ensure broader stability of the South Pacific region.