In this bulletin:
1. UK — Commonwealth SG warns global debt crisis threatens ‘survival’ of Small States
2. ACP — OACP SG appoints Katalaina Sapolu of Samoa as Assistant SG for global operations
3. PACIFIC — Pacific push for ocean protection as BBNJ PrepCom 3 opens in New York
4. UN — “Climate chaos is rewriting the rules of weather”: UN SG Guterres
5. PACIFIC — PNG media under scrutiny
6. FIJI — Fiji Military backing restricted to police gaps, says Police Comissioner Tudravu
7. FIJI — Canal France International wraps up Terra Asia project in Fiji to tackle disinformation
8. PACIFIC — Pacific chiefs of police to meet in Saipan
9. TOKELAU — Emotional return to Tokelau for Royal New Zealand Navy sailor
10. PACNEWS BIZ — FFA Members meet in Honiara to boost fisheries surveillance and security
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Work starts on K80million seafood facility in Lae
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — China’s grip grows on fragile Solomon Islands’ media
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — David vs Goliath: How Vanuatu Is Standing up to the U.S
UK – DEBT SYSTEM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Commonwealth SG warns global debt crisis threatens ‘survival’ of Small States
LONDON, 24 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS) — The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Shirley Botchwey has warned that rising global debt is threatening development, sovereignty and survival for many countries, particularly small and vulnerable states.
Opening the Commonwealth Forum on Sustainable Sovereign Debt at Marlborough House Monday, Botchwey said governments are being forced into difficult trade-offs that affect their people and future.
“Debt is not a question of balance sheets. For many countries, it is a question of choices; of social cohesion and of survival.”
“Between investing in people or servicing the past. Between resilience, and vulnerability. Between sovereignty, and the choices of creditors,” said Botchwey.
She said for many small states, the consequences are immediate and severe.
“For many of our Small States and vulnerable economies, it is quite literally the difference between a new school or a shuttered clinic — between recovery and retreat.”
The Secretary-General said the current global financial system is failing those most in need.
“Because we are not simply confronting high levels of global debt. We are confronting a global system that is no longer delivering as it should.”
“A system where risk is priced unevenly. Where access to finance is too slow, too costly, and too conditional.”
“And where those most exposed to shocks often face the greatest barriers to recovery. That is not just unsustainable. It is unjust.”
She said these challenges are also affecting global economic growth.
“And it hurts growth across our interconnected global economy.”
Botchwey stressed the need for coordinated global action.
“It is precisely why the Commonwealth must act — not only to support our members, but to help shape a more effective and equitable approach to sovereign debt globally.”
She said the issue is becoming more urgent as global debt reaches unprecedented levels.
“Now, we must build on that legacy — and adapt it to a far more complex and uncertain world. A world in which public debt has reached unprecedented levels.”
“A world where climate shocks, economic and geopolitical volatility as well as technological disruption are no longer peripheral risks — but central drivers of fiscal instability.”
She warned that decisions made now will have long-term consequences.
“And a world in which the decisions we take today will define the opportunities available to future generations.”
The Secretary-General also launched two new reports during the forum, highlighting the long-term impact of debt decisions.
“Together, they make one message unmistakably clear: Today’s debt decisions will shape tomorrow’s development outcomes.”
Botchwey said the issue is also about fairness between generations.
“In a Commonwealth where 60 percent of our people are under the age of 30, this is not only an economic issue. It is an intergenerational contract.”
“Every dollar spent on unsustainable debt is a dollar not invested in education, in jobs, in opportunity — and in the future our young people deserve,” she said.
The Secretary-General outlined three key priorities for reforming debt management across Commonwealth countries.
The first is modernising debt systems through technology.
“Through Meridian 2030, we are building the infrastructure for real-time, transparent, data-driven debt management.”
“By integrating artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools, we aim to equip governments with the information and foresight they need — not simply to manage debt, but to negotiate from a position of strength,” said Botchwey.
She said new tools will help countries better prepare for future risks.
“And through Horizon 2.0, we are advancing forward-looking analytical tools that help countries anticipate — rather than react to — emerging risks.”
The second priority is linking debt to climate resilience.
“In too many of our member states, climate shocks are now the single greatest driver of fiscal stress.”
“We must ensure that sovereign debt frameworks reflect this reality.”
“By leveraging blue and green assets, expanding access to resilience finance, and integrating climate risk into debt strategies, we can reduce vulnerability while protecting the natural capital on which so many of our economies depend.”
The third priority is turning ideas into action.
“For too long, innovative instruments have remained on the margins.”
“Debt swaps, resilience-linked financing, and other tools must become part of the mainstream.”
“Our new Handbook on Debt Swaps is designed to support precisely this transition — turning ideas into practical solutions that create fiscal space and unlock investment.”
SG Botchwey said the forum must deliver real outcomes, not just discussions.
“This week is not only about ideas. It is about implementation.”
“It is about building partnerships that can unlock concessional finance at scale.”
She also announced new initiatives to strengthen cooperation across member countries.
“That is why I am pleased to announce the Inaugural Commonwealth Public Debt Management Awards.”
“These awards recognise the professionalism, integrity and innovation of public debt offices across our membership.”
She said a new Commonwealth Debt Managers Network will also be established.
“This network will provide a permanent platform for collaboration, peer learning, and coordinated action.”
“It will strengthen our collective voice. And it will help ensure that the priorities of our member states are reflected more effectively in global financial discussions.”
The Secretary-General urged officials to act decisively, warning that incremental changes are no longer enough.
“To the Heads of Public Debt Management in this room: You are not only managers of debt. You are architects of economic resilience.”
“The decisions you shape this week will not remain in conference rooms. They will determine fiscal space, development pathways, and economic sovereignty for years — even decades — to come.”
She said bold action is now required.
“So let us be clear about the task before us. The time for incremental change has passed.”
“What is required now is coordination, innovation, and the courage to act differently.”
The Secretary-General said the Commonwealth has a key role to play in shaping the global response.
“If we succeed, the Commonwealth will not simply respond to the global debt challenge. We will help redefine how it is addressed.”
“And in doing so, we will ensure that our countries are not only more resilient — but more empowered, more equitable, and better prepared for the future,” Botchwey said…. PACNEWS
ACP – DIPLOMACY: OACP PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
OACP SG appoints Katalaina Sapolu of Samoa as Assistant SG for global operations
BRUSSELS, 24 MARCH 2026 (OACP SECRETARIAT) — The Secretary-General of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) Moussa Batraki has announced the appointment of Katalaina Sapolu of Samoa, as Assistant Secretary-General for Global Operations.
Sapolu brings to the position more than 15 years of senior leadership experience at the international and national levels, with a strong record in operational oversight, institutional reform, financial governance and accountability.
Her experience spans finance, budgeting, human resources, procurement, information technology, conferences, protocol and facilities management, as well as senior-level engagement in complex multilateral environments.
She most recently served as Ombudsman and Head of the National Human Rights Institution of Samoa.
Prior to that, she held senior positions at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, including as Senior Director, Governance and Peace Directorate, Officer-in-Charge for Operations, and Director, Rule of Law Division. Earlier, she served as Chief Legal Counsel of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in Brussels, where she advised on legal, institutional and governance matters, bringing to the role a strong legal background alongside her operational and managerial experience.
Sapolu practised law in Samoa and New Zealand before joining international service. She holds a Master of Laws in Public International Law from Queen Mary, University of London, a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Newcastle, Australia…. PACNEWS
PAC – BBNJ: PACNEWS/OPOC PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Pacific push for ocean protection as BBNJ PrepCom 3 opens in New York
NEW YORK, 24 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS/OPOC) — The third and final session of the Preparatory Commission for the BBNJ Agreement under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) has begun in New York, bringing together global delegates to advance efforts to protect marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
Over the next two weeks, Pacific representatives will join negotiations on the landmark agreement aimed at strengthening governance of the high seas and safeguarding ocean resources.
Ahead of the session, Pacific Small Island Developing States met over the weekend to align their positions and reaffirm shared priorities for ocean protection.
The Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), alongside experts from regional CROP agencies, is providing technical support during the talks to ensure Pacific interests are represented.
Officials say the region is maintaining a unified approach as negotiations enter their final stage, with a focus on protecting marine biodiversity and strengthening international cooperation.
Pacific countries continue to push for strong outcomes from the process, reinforcing their role in global ocean governance and efforts to safeguard the high seas…. PACNEWS
UN – CLIMATE CHANGE: UN NEWS CENTRE PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
“Climate chaos is rewriting the rules of weather”: UN SG Guterres
NEW YORK, 24 MARCH 2026 (UN NEWS CENTRE) — “Climate chaos is rewriting the rules of weather,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on World Meteorological Day, as new data confirmed accelerating global warming driven by record greenhouse gas levels.
Highlighting intensifying heat, prolonged droughts, rising seas and increasingly frequent extreme events, the UN chief stressed that “accurate, trusted science is our first line of defence,” underscoring the critical role of global observation systems and early warning services in saving lives.
His message comes as the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) reported that concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have reached all-time highs, continuing to drive record temperatures across land and ocean with long-lasting consequences for humanity.
Following the hottest decade on record, the UN’s weather agency said the planet’s climate is now “more out of balance than at any time in observed history.”
“Between 2015 and 2025, we experienced the hottest 11 years on record,” said Ko Barrett, WMO Deputy Executive Secretary.
Global temperatures in 2025 were around 1.43°C above the 1850–1900 baseline, she noted, alongside record-breaking ocean heat levels — a clear indication of the growing accumulation of energy within the Earth system.
Warming oceans, melting ice, rising seas
Presenting a stark overview of the state of the climate, Barrett warned that ongoing glacier retreat and ice loss are accelerating sea-level rise.
“The warming ocean and melting land-based ice are driving the long-term rise in global mean sea level,” she said.
She emphasised that the findings must spur stronger efforts to expand early warning systems and ensure that life-saving forecasts reach those most at risk, helping communities better withstand climate shocks.
WMO has issued annual climate assessments for more than 30 years, but recent record-breaking trends have become an increasing source of concern.
The agency also reported that concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide reached record levels in 2024 — the latest year with consolidated global data — marking the largest annual increase on record.
According to WMO scientific officer John Kennedy, preliminary observations show that levels continued to rise in 2025, further altering the planet’s energy balance.
In a stable climate system, incoming solar energy is balanced by outgoing radiation. But this equilibrium has been disrupted.
“With increased greenhouse gas concentrations, less energy escapes into space,” Kennedy explained. “More energy coming in than going out means that energy is accumulating in the Earth’s system.”
A new WMO indicator tracking Earth’s energy imbalance shows a marked acceleration in warming between 2001 and 2025.
Around 90 percent of the excess heat is absorbed by the oceans — a development with major implications, as more than three billion people depend on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Nearly 11 percent of the global population lives in low-lying coastal areas directly exposed to climate-related hazards.
Under this year’s theme, “Observing Today, Protecting Tomorrow,” the Secretary-General called for urgent investment in climate monitoring and early warning infrastructure.
He urged governments, development banks and the private sector to scale up support for the global observing system — from ground stations to satellites — and to ensure open and equitable data sharing.
Guterres also stressed the need to accelerate the Early Warnings for All initiative so that, by 2027, every person on Earth is protected by life-saving alerts.
“By observing today, we can protect tomorrow — for people, for planet, for prosperity, and for generations to come,” he said…. PACNEWS
PAC – MEDIA: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
PNG media under scrutiny
PORT MORESBY, 24 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — An inquiry by the Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Communications tabled in Papua New Guinea Parliament has revealed flaws in the standard and integrity of journalism which must be improved through legislative reform and institutional strengthening.
Committee chairman and Wau-Waria MP Marsh Narewec said the two-year inquiry was conducted to examine the state of journalism and recommend ways to develop the media industry to protect democracy.
“Many journalists reported intimidation, harassment, and online abuse, particularly when covering sensitive political or public interest issues,” he said.
“In some cases, safety concerns and professional pressures discourage independent reporting.
“These challenges highlight the importance of protecting both the safety and the editorial independence of journalists so they can carry out their work freely and responsibly.”
Eight of the committee’s 40 recommendations were:
*Launching a parliamentary medial fellowship to improve government-media relations;
*Reinstating cadet journalist programmes and create specialised journalism training courses for ongoing skills development;
*Replacing the Printers and Newspapers Act with a Freedom of Press Act;
*Legislate an Access to Information Act;
*Implement age-appropriate mobile phone/social media restrictions in educational settings;
*Modernise the Censorship Act to regulate online content and digital platforms;
*Update national ethical coders for journalists to reflect media challenges; and,
*Provide funding to the Media Council of PNG through the proposed Media Development Trust Fund.
Narewec said: “The committee recommends developing clear national social media protocols for government agencies and strengthening safeguards to ensure responsible use of digital platforms, particularly for young people, to protect them from harmful online content, misinformation, and cyberbullying.
“These measures should support a safer digital environment while maintaining transparency, accountability, and full respect for constitutional protection for freedom of expression.”
He said the committee’s terms of reference were to inquire and report on the:
*Impact of misinformation, disinformation, and poor-quality news reporting on individuals, communities, businesses, and government;
*Adequacy and effectiveness of regulatory frameworks governing the media industry in addressing misinformation and poor reporting;
*Role of regulatory bodies and professional associations in promoting journalistic culture, ethics, and best practices;
*Quality and standard of journalism education, including training programmes, and facilities;
*Relevant international best practices to combat misinformation and promote media integrity; and,
*Effectiveness of existing policies in promoting the welfare, safety, and professional integrity of journalists.
“The inquiry also highlighted the growing influence of social media as a primary source of information, where misinformation, disinformation, cyberbullying, and sensational content can spread rapidly.
“Stakeholders also raised concerns about the exposure of children and young people to harmful online content, the weakening capacity of public broadcasting services in some provinces, and gaps in regulatory frameworks needed to respond effectively todigital-era challenges,”. Narewec said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DRUGS FIGHT: FBC NEWS PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Fiji Military backing restricted to police gaps, says Police Comissioner Tudravu
SUVA, 24 MARCH 2026 (FBC NEWS) — Fiji Police is using military assets in their fight against organised crime and drug trafficking in a strictly legal and purpose-specific manner.
These forces are deployed only when police cannot achieve objectives alone, focusing on sophisticated networks in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu confirmed the measure, emphasising careful planning and coordination with law enforcement.
He confirmed that coordinated police-military operations are planned, with all operational, intelligence and assessment measures already in place.
“I know that the general public are looking for quick answers, need the military’s intervention into the things but people need to know their legal issues that are involved and that is the areas that we are looking into but the military will always be there to support us and then we are working on it.
“I can vouch now that in not too distant future,the team will coordinate from a central point in regards to our joint operations everything is already planned, everything is there, it’s just a matter of starting off some areas that needs to be cleared and then we will continue with the work,” said Tudravu.
Teams will coordinate from a central command to target sophisticated criminal networks exploiting remote terrain, maritime spaces and logistical advantages beyond routine policing.
Tudravu said the Fiji Military Forces would provide specialised support, including maritime surveillance, aerial reconnaissance, logistics, intelligence fusion, engineering and limited operational assistance.
He stressed that roles are clearly defined, operational areas and road demarcations are mapped, and the public will be informed as actions progress.
Describing the anti-drug campaign as a long-term strategy, Tudravu said centralised coordination would ensure seamless collaboration between police and military under civilian oversight and the rule of law.
The Ministry of Policing Strategic Plan 2025–2030 frames military support as a controlled, critical element in Fiji’s sustained campaign against organised crime…. PACNEWS
FIJI – MEDIA: EMBASSY OF FRANCE PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Canal France International wraps up Terra Asia project in Fiji to tackle disinformation
SUVA, 24 MARCH 2026 (EMBASSY OF FRANCE) — The Canal France International (CFI) has concluded its Terra Asia project in Fiji with a wrap-up seminar held in Suva last Friday.
The event, supported by the Embassy of France in Fiji and organised with the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), marked the final stage of the initiative in the country.
Since its launch, the Terra Asia project has focused on building the capacity of journalists from the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) to counter disinformation and strengthen reporting on environmental issues.
French Embassy Chargé d’affaires Benjamin Delannoy opened the seminar, highlighting the importance of the programme.
“In today’s world, misinformation spreads faster than ever. Terra Asia equips journalists with the knowledge and tools to report accurately on environmental challenges, helping communities stay informed and resilient.”
Project manager Chloé Laskar said the programme reached a wide group of journalists across the region.
“We’ve trained 16 journalists through 12 local trainings and one regional session.”
“We also launched an online training programme and have so far delivered 18 sessions, with more than 1,200 registered participants. Participants came from 63 different organisations across 14 countries,”
“These results demonstrate a strong regional demand for reliable environmental reporting and for practical tools to counter disinformation.”
The seminar outlined the project’s key achievements and included presentations and testimonials from participating journalists on how they applied the training in their work.
Discussions also focused on the future of environmental journalism in Fiji and the Pacific, including ways to reduce the spread of disinformation.
The event marked the conclusion of Terra Asia activities in Fiji and reaffirmed the partners’ commitment to supporting accurate and responsible journalism in the region…. PACNEWS
PAC – POLICE CHIEFS MEET: MARIANAS VARIETY PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Pacific chiefs of police to meet in Saipan
SAIPAN, 24 MARCH 2026 (MARIANAS VARIETY) — The CNMI will host this year’s Pacific Islands Chiefs of Police annual conference in Saipan from 24 – 28 August 2026.
The PICP Secretariat’s acting executive director, Kelly Ryan, and Executive Coordinator Julian Bianco are on Saipan to prepare for the event.
They paid a courtesy visit to Governor David Apatang, accompanied by the current PICP chairman, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Anthony Macaranas. The deputy chair is Commissioner Kalshem Bongran of Vanuatu.
Aside from the CNMI, 21 other Pacific island nations and jurisdictions are members of the PICP.
In an interview, Ryan said the annual conference brings together the chiefs of police from all 22 member nations and jurisdictions to discuss “key developments” across “Our Blue Pacific.”
She said the PICP Secretariat is focusing on several issues, including challenges in recruiting police officers and addressing transnational crimes such as drug trafficking.
Ryan added that bringing together all the chiefs of police and other members of each delegation face-to-face is incredibly important.
“It’s an opportunity to spend time together to strengthen partnerships, work collaboratively, and achieve our objective of uniting Pacific leadership to build highly capable policing and make ‘Our Blue Pacific safer together,’” she said…. PACNEWS
TOKELAU – DEFENCE: NZDF PACNEWS 2: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Emotional return to Tokelau for Royal New Zealand Navy sailor
NUKUNONU, 24 MARCH 2026 (NZDF) — Returning to her spiritual home of Tokelau was a profound experience for Petty Officer Christina Sola, who visited the island while on deployment with the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) during the recent Operation Calypso in the Southwest Pacific.
New Zealand-born, but of Tokelauan, Samoan and New Zealand European descent, Petty Officer Sola reconnected with whānau when HMNZS Canterbury arrived in Tokelau.
Incorporated in the operation was the celebration of the centenary of New Zealand’s administration of Tokelau and on board the ship for the occasion was New Zealand Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro.
“To step ashore alongside my shipmates, and on this occasion in the presence of the Governor‑General Dame Cindy Kiro, was an immense honour and a moment of profound personal and cultural significance,” Petty Officer Sola said.
“Tokelau is my tūrangawaewae – a place where I feel grounded spiritually, mentally and physically. It is sacred and treasured land, richly woven with history, culture and tradition. Each time I arrive, it instantly feels like home.”
Petty Officer Sola’s Tokelauan family hails from Fakaofo atoll. Her husband Penehe, also of Tokelauan descent, comes from the atolls of Nukunonu and Atafu. They have four children, and she credits her husband’s unwavering support for being able to continue doing the job she loves in the Navy.
The communications warfare specialist enlisted in 2008 and has worked across a wide range of operational and leadership roles supporting New Zealand’s defence and security efforts, both at home and around the world.
She last visited Tokelau in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. Petty Officer Sola said the situation was entirely different then and the stakes couldn’t have been higher.
“Canterbury was tasked to deliver routine cyclone season support and essential supplies. This included new freshwater tanks, solar equipment, generator maintenance, and most importantly, Covid-19 vaccination supplies.
“Tokelau had no recorded cases of Covid-19 at the time and there was a very real possibility that, if we were not careful, we could have been the ones to introduce the virus to a population of fewer than 1,500 people.
“I was incredibly grateful that our deployable teams completed the mission without any incident, and I was still able to see my family, while not touching one another to keep the strict two-metre distancing policy in place.”
This recent arrival was very different from the last, with loved ones from both her own and her husband’s family welcoming her across the three Tokelauan atolls.
“These are moments I will cherish forever. I will always acknowledge the sacrifices they have made – and continue to make – so that our families around the world can pursue opportunities and lives abroad, including those of us living and serving in Aotearoa, New Zealand.”
Petty Officer Sola’s career has seen her sail from the sub-Antarctic to the Pacific, across to Asia and over to the United States.
As part of the Navy’s extensive operation to the South-West Pacific and alongside the Tokelau centenary visit, HMNZS Canterbury crew facilitated an upgrade of critical tsunami and volcano monitoring equipment on Raoul Island and conducted a successful search and rescue operation near Tonga.
With New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel aboard, the military sealift vessel covered 4580 nautical miles, without the ship needing to take on additional food or fuel over 23 days…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – FISHERIES: PACNEWS/FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 24 Mar 2026
FFA Members meet in Honiara to boost fisheries surveillance and security
HONIARA, 24 MARCH 2026 (PACNEWS/FFA) — Members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) have begun a weeklong meeting focused on strengthening monitoring, surveillance and security across the region’s fisheries.
The 29th Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Working Group Meeting was opened by FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop at the agency’s headquarters in Honiara, running from 23 to 27 March 2026.
More than 80 participants from FFA’s 17 member countries, along with regional and international partners, are attending the meeting to discuss key areas including fisheries monitoring, compliance, surveillance operations, data systems and emerging technologies.
Pakop said the scale of the Pacific Ocean brings both opportunity and responsibility for member countries.
“The success of this work is based primarily on strong on partnership,” the Director-General said.
He stressed the need for continued cooperation to address illegal fishing and strengthen fisheries management across the region.
“As we all know, the extent of our waters covers over 30 million square kilometres, and whilst it brings opportunities for our membership, there is also the challenge of ensuring the stock remains in a sustainable state.”
Pakop highlighted the economic importance of fisheries to Pacific countries, noting that the region supplies more than half of the world’s tuna, supports over 26,000 jobs, generates more than USD$500 million in government revenue and exceeds USD$1 billion in export earnings.
He also highlighted the ongoing reforms within the FFA aimed at strengthening its capacity and improving support to members and encouraged participants to contribute ideas to enhance regional outcomes.
The meeting is expected to advance implementation of the FFA Regional MCS Strategy 2024–2029 and strengthen coordination among members and partners in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing…. PACNEWS
PNG – FISHERIES: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 24 Mar 2026
Work starts on K80million seafood facility in Lae
PORT MORESBY, 24 MARCH 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — Work has started on the K80 million (US$18.56 million) Nambawan Seafoods PNG Limited cold facility in Lae, says National Fisheries Authority managing director Justin Ilakini.
Ilakini said the 12,000-metric tonne facility signaled renewed investor confidence and the beginning of a new phase of growth in the country’s fisheries sector.
He said during the groundbreaking ceremony at Portion 667, Busu Road, that the investment would be the largest cold storage facility in the country.
Ilakini said PNG’s tuna industry experienced its first major investment phase between the 1990s and 2013, culminating in the establishment of six tuna processing plants.
But from 2013 to 2024, the sector saw no new foreign direct investment.
“The tide is now turning. Investor confidence has been restored, and we are witnessing the beginning of a second phase of strategic investments,” he said.
The new facility will expand Nambawan Seafoods’ cold storage capacity from 2,000 metric tonnes to 14,000 metric tonnes, delivering major operational and economic benefits. These include:
* Increased inventory capacity to ensure consistent supply of raw tuna and reduce production disruptions;
* An additional 18,000 metric tonnes of tuna processed annually;
* Increased daily production from 120-130 tonnes to 150-160 tonnes;
*Establishment of a new processing line for yellowfin and bigeye tuna steaks, with a capacity of 20-30 tonnes per day;
*Creation of 400-500 new jobs, increasing the company’s workforce to approximately 2,200 employees; and,
*Additional storage support for Majestic Tuna Corporation.
Ilakini said the investment would increase the country’s total tuna cold storage capacity by more than 60 percent – from 16,550 metric tonnes to 28,550 metric tonnes-addressing key industry bottlenecks and improving efficiency across the sector.
“This development will lead to more tuna landings, increased processing, greater employment opportunities, and higher export earnings for the country,” he said.
Ilakini said the investment aligned with the Government’s Fisheries Strategic Plan and the National Tuna Domestication Strategy, which aimed to ensure PNG captures greater value from its tuna resources through local processing and value addition…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS In Focus
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
China’s grip grows on fragile Solomon Islands’ media
HONIARA, 24 MARCH 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) — Since the Solomon Islands established diplomatic relations with China in 2019, the Pacific archipelago has become a strategic arena for Beijing’s influence.
By capitalising on the economic fragility of the local media sector, China has stepped up conditional funding, editorial partnerships, and influence programmes to disseminate its narratives. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Solomon Islands’ government to make the viability and independence of the media sector a priority.
One day in January 2024, Lloyd Loji, publisher of the Island Sun—one of the country’s leading dailies—reportedly received a call from a Chinese diplomat.
According to the investigative outlet In-depth Solomons, the diplomat expressed the embassy’s “concern” about an Op-ed published that same day on the election of the new president of Taiwan and its implications on relations between China and Western countries. At the end of the call, the Chinese diplomat explicitly asked the newspaper to relay articles he had sent, reflecting Beijing’s official position on regional affairs.
The Chinese diplomat did not stop at interfering in the editorial line of the Island Sun. In-depth Solomons reports that he also emailed the owners and editors of the country’s main media outlets, urging them to adopt the Chinese narrative on the Taiwanese elections and sharing two articles he asked them to publish.
The Solomon Star, another major daily of the Solomon Islands, duly published the articles supplied by the Chinese embassy. Both the Solomon Star and Island Sun depend on Chinese funding as the country’s media landscape is facing structural economic difficulties.
Economic precarity as Beijing’s gateway
With fewer than 700,000 inhabitants and a limited advertising market—which is increasingly dominated by social media companies—news organisations in this archipelagic state face structural economic hardship. These vulnerabilities deepened during the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of traditional press revenues, which mostly consist of advertising, making external funding essential to survival, whether from Australia, China, or the United States.
Unlike support from other foreign partners, Chinese assistance often comes with editorial conditions. After fifteen years as a journalist in the Solomon Islands, Priestley Habru—now a PhD candidate at the University of Adelaide—told RSF about the demands made by the Chinese embassy to Island Sun after he left the outlet. According to his network, after the diplomatic mission donated computers, the newsroom was instructed to “stop publishing articles on Taiwan’s President.”
An investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an international investigative journalism network, also revealed that in 2022, the Solomon Star sought $SBD1.15 million (around USD$140,000) from China to modernise its infrastructure, pledging in return to promote Beijing’s image as the islands’ “most generous and trustworthy” partner.
Following revelations about attempts by Chinese diplomats to directly interfere with the Island Sun and the country’s leading media outlets in early 2024, Beijing appears to have adopted a more discreet approach. Ofani Eremae, president of the Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI), explained to RSF that several local outlets have signed agreements with Chinese state media to use the state media’s content—which is fully controlled by the Chinese authorities—free of charge. In early 2026, CCTV+, China’s state-owned international video news service, also offered that MASI and In-depth Solomon’s use of its raw video footage and live broadcast signals free of charge, and invited them to sign cooperation agreements. Both In-depth Solomons and MASI have not yet responded to the proposal.
“The authorities of the Solomon Islands must take immediate, concrete action to safeguard the country’s media landscape from undue influence by China and to ensure the conditions necessary for genuine editorial independence. This includes establishing transparent and sustainable financial support mechanisms that fully respect press freedom – because only a media environment free from political or economic coercion can allow newsrooms to operate with integrity and independence,” said Aleksandra Bielakowska, Advocacy Manager, RSF Asia-Pacific.
All-expenses-paid trips to China
Since 2019, at least 30 of MASI’s 70-member journalists have been invited to China, sometimes more than once, according to Ofani Eremae. These visits, fully funded by Beijing, are designed to showcase the country’s economic achievements, the workings of its media system, and, ultimately, to encourage participants to adopt and relay official Chinese discourse.
“The authorities’ aim is to show how advanced China is—a great country that has developed enormously in recent years—and to explain how their media operate,” Eremae said. In June 2025, four journalists attended a two-week seminar in Beijing organised by the National Radio and Television Administration, a State body controlled by the Chinese Propaganda Department and responsible for ensuring that programmes align with the regime’s political line. Eremae says he has received similar invitations, but he turned them down due to work commitments. Chinese influence also extends to institutions: according to Eremae, nearly 90 percent of officials in the government unit responsible for communication and press relations have taken at least one official trip to China since 2019.
A grave decline in press freedom
This rapprochement between China and the Solomon Islands has been accompanied by a marked deterioration in the media climate, particularly during the fourth term of former Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (2019–2024), accused of fostering hostility towards the press.
“The very close relationship Sogavare maintained with China influenced the way he dealt with the media,” Eremae explained.
After signing a controversial security agreement with Beijing in 2022—which was never made public—journalists faced strict restrictions during an official Chinese visit.
Weeks later, the government threatened to bar foreign reporters from entering the country after Australia’s public broadcaster, ABC, aired an investigation on Chinese influence in the archipelago.
Manasseh Sogavare, who repeatedly praised Chinese governance, also appeared to draw inspiration from its policy of controlling information. This was evident in the reform of the status of the publicly owned media group Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation (SIBC)—the only shortwave radio broadcaster across the archipelago’s 900 islands—placing it under the direct authority of the Prime Minister’s Office. The restructuring was accompanied by disturbing instructions to censor content critical of the government.
China is the world’s biggest jailer of journalists, with 121 currently detained, and ranks 178th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2025 RSF World Press Freedom Index.… PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
David vs Goliath: How Vanuatu Is Standing up to the U.S
For small, climate-vulnerable states, climate change is not a bargaining chip but an existential priority.
By Emily Wilkinson and Kira-Lee Gmeiner
NEW YORK/PORT VILA, 24 MARCH 2026 (THE DIPLOMAT) — Vanuatu is locked in a diplomatic battle of wills with the United States, the world’s largest superpower, over a draft United Nations General Assembly resolution that would further strengthen a landmark climate justice ruling last year. The determination of this tiny Pacific Island state demonstrates the power of small-state diplomacy.
The proposed resolution is a stress test of U.S influence in multilateral institutions at a moment of acute climate vulnerability and geopolitical fragmentation. Many countries are bending to President Donald Trump’s will as he seeks to reverse hard-won gains on climate action. But Vanuatu, a nation with an economy amounting to just 0.004 percent of the United States’, is holding firm because it has to. For small, climate-vulnerable states, climate change is not a bargaining chip but an existential priority. Their governments will withstand diplomatic pressure because they have no other option.
In July 2025, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) gave its Advisory Opinion that states could be in violation of international law if they fail to take sufficient climate action. The ICJ also advised that harmed states may be entitled to reparations.
Vanuatu had championed this initiative from the start. After a successful diplomatic campaign, the U.N. General Assembly adopted resolution 77/276 in March 2023 formally requesting the opinion of the ICJ. That led to the landmark ruling last year. Vanuatu and partners are now seeking a General Assembly resolution to operationalize the ICJ’s ruling, with the hope it will be adopted on April 22, 2026 – Earth Day.
The ruling itself was clear that states have obligations to act on climate change under international law, and that a breach of these obligations has legal consequences and might include reparations. The ruling has already strengthened avenues for domestic legal cases, as can be seen in the small island of Bonaire’s recent victory in Dutch courts. The Advisory Opinion lacks detail, however, on how the rights and obligations will be taken forward, and a resolution from the General Assembly can help clarify important avenues for implementation.
But the Trump administration “strongly objects” to the proposal, which Washington argues “could pose a major threat to U.S industry.” The United States government is pressuring Vanuatu and its supporters to drop the draft resolution.
Undeterred, Vanuatu shared a second draft with UN members last week. The newest draft calls on states to ramp up their climate commitments – including through the phase out of fossil fuels, protection of forests and other carbon sinks, and critically, by paying full and prompt reparations if they fail to enact sufficient climate action.
One of the most controversial aspects of the first draft, the establishment of an International Register of Damage to track climate change losses, has been significantly watered down as a compromise. Rather than establishing the Register as originally drafted, the resolution now calls for options and proposals to be presented to the next session of the UN General Assembly, which opens in September.
Another sticking point in the draft text is the call to scale up finance for loss and damage, at a time when many Western countries are slashing their aid budgets.
Vanuatu’s bold stance may look risky, but it is well-positioned to be a thorn in the side of the far more powerful United States in climate diplomacy. Less than 1 percent of Vanuatu’s imports come from the U.S., while the country only sends around 4.5 percent of annual exports to the U.S., reducing the potential sting of new tariffs or a trade embargo. On aid, the United States accounted for only 2 percent of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vanuatu in 2023. This was cut even further with the shutdown of USAID in 2025.
Vanuatu was already threatened with a U.S travel ban mid-2025, along with two other Pacific nations; however, these are yet to be enacted. Only 300 Vanuatu nationals travel to the U.S every year, so the impacts of potential travel bans are not expansive. While Vanuatu is heavily reliant on tourism income, the U.S only accounts for around three percent of tourists entering the country.
Vanuatu’s independence from U.S influence is not unique. A recent survey of Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) preferred development partners ranked the United States below China, Japan, and Australia across all SIDS. This reflects growing frustration over the country’s lack of reliable support, coupled with the harm it is doing in blocking domestic and international action on climate change.
SIDS, while small in military power and economically vulnerable to shocks, are uniquely positioned to stand up to diplomatic pressure. Together, they command 20 percent of votes at the UN and some in geopolitically strategic locations. With so much at stake, bullying tactics are no longer enough to prevent climate action.
If Vanuatu quietly withdrew the resolution tomorrow, the global order would not shift. But if small states begin to show that U.S pressure does not successfully deter multilateral climate action, that matters. It would signal that the calculus of power inside the U.N. system is evolving – and that even the most powerful governments cannot as readily block efforts to convert climate law into collective action…. PACNEWS