Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia has been able to stop an “incursion” by Beijing into the Pacific islands by talking with leaders there weekly and offering vaccine aid, Reuters reports.

Morrison said China had been “very clear” about aspirations to build a military base in the Pacific islands, but this had not occurred.

This was because Australia worked closely with the region, including providing Covid-19 vaccines before others could offer support, he said in a TV interview with Nine's Weekend Today.

“I talk to Pacific leaders every single week and that is what ensures that we can block the incursion into our region because we share values with the Pacific,” he said.