Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has said that the government is again in talks with China on security cooperation. But he stressed that his country will not jeopardize its partnerships with the US or Australia.

Justin Tkatchenko said on Tuesday that Beijing has offered assistance with policing, including training and supplying equipment.

The Foreign Minister said the government is assessing the offer. But he insisted that existing security agreements are the priority.

Papua New Guinea, the largest South Pacific island nation, signed a security pact with Washington last May and with Canberra last month.

Beijing's move to potentially provide assistance is seen as the latest attempt to jockey for influence amid the US-China rivalry in the region.

China had offered Papua New Guinea its own security deal in September.