In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — China’s ballistic missile launch was a message for the U.S
2. PACIFIC — NZ to discuss joining Fiji-Australia alliance
3. FIJI — Fiji military urged to review pregnancy rules for peacekeepers
4. FIJI — Rights group raises human rights concerns over Australia-Fiji defence pact
5. SOL — Wale unveils blueprint for a stronger nation
6. COOKS — Michael Henry appointed Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji
7. FIJI — ‘The trauma remains’: Fiji families finally leaving tent life after nearly six years
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Solomon Islands calls for stronger national policies to unlock blue carbon financing
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Air Niugini resumes direct services between Port Moresby and Tokyo, Japan
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji targets meat imports with sheep and goat farming push
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Sugar Tribunal Registrar urges overhaul of Fiji’s sugar farming model
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Palau’s President warns of rising nuclear anxiety in the Pacific, after China missile test
13. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — How Beijing ‘tripled the size of its nuclear arsenal’ in six years
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — Samoa gathering builds innovative, cross-regional partnerships for Australian Awards Fellows
PACIFIC – DEFENCE/SECURITY: AP PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
China’s ballistic missile launch was a message for the U.S
BANGKOK, 10 JULY 2026 (AP) — When China launched a ballistic missile into the South Pacific Ocean on Monday, it was a rare test of a nuclear-capable weapons system that drew international rebuke.
Arriving two years after a similar missile launch in international waters in the Pacific, the test by the People’s Liberation Army caught the attention of small island nations whose leaders have increasingly urged bigger countries to stop using the vast oceanic region for power struggles. But Beijing’s message was largely for just one country, experts say: the United States.
“The most important message is the PLA is becoming a powerful military with a very strong strategic nuclear capability,” said Tong Zhao, a senior fellow with the Nuclear Policy Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a think tank.
The test, launched from a nuclear-powered submarine, was a demonstration of the sea-based leg of China’s nuclear triad capability, which refers to the ability to have land, sea, and air-based nuclear systems.
Further, it showed that China’s military has what is called a second-strike capability, said Dominic Meagher, a research fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy in Australia. That means even if China was attacked first, it still has the ability to strike back, because the ability to fire could be anywhere, in the ocean or on land.
Beijing said the launch was part of annual exercises, suggesting that it may conduct similar launches in the future.
“I would see this as a systematic move, not an isolated event,” said K. Tristan Tang, Nonresident Fellow at the National Bureau of Asian Research, in emailed comments.
The missile testing comes as China is also racing to build more nuclear-powered submarines. In the past five years, China has been building these types of submarines faster than the U.S, according to a report from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank.
However, the use of international waters, specifically treaty-protected waters where nuclear testing is prohibited, drew criticism from countries in the region. The waters of the South Pacific Ocean are contested because they’re strategically important and rich with fishers and minerals.
For Pacific nations, nuclear testing in particular recalls historical harm. The U.S, the UK and France have all detonated nuclear warheads in the Pacific, causing environmental contamination and health issues such as cancers and birth defects that some island nations say they are still recording generations later.
“Those tests resulted in outrage and resulted in treaties to prevent future tests, and that includes the nuclear test ban treaty and the Treaty of Rarotonga, said Meagher. “These kinds of missile tests haven’t been conducted since.”
Monday’s missile landed in the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, which was established by the 1986 Rarotonga accord, which prohibits nuclear weapons throughout the region. China ratified the protocols in 1987 that prohibit testing nuclear weapons within the zone or threatening to use them against signatories with territory in the region.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, speaking to reporters in the Solomon capital Honiara Tuesday, said, “China is a good friend of Solomon Islands, but this is not something a friend does. This is not … good in our region.”
While U.S forces still conduct nuclear missile testing in the Pacific, they avoid the treaty area, Meagher said.
Australia and New Zealand both said they were not given enough prior notice about the test, and other countries like Japan said it was done without transparency. Canberra and Wellington are two of the South Pacific’s biggest powers and have grown anxious about Beijing’s attempts to vie for sway in the region.
Bilateral deals between China and the leaders of small Pacific nations have prompted Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to embark on a charm offensive of his own. That has included defense and security pacts inked with Vanuatu, Fiji and Papua New Guinea in the past year.
On Tuesday, Albanese decried the missile launch as “a provocative act by China which does destabilise the region,” when he spoke to reporters in Honiara, where he was holding talks with officials. Australia and the Solomon Islands are in the process of negotiating a comprehensive treaty.
“The fact that this test took place yesterday with very little notice is of real concern,” he added.
China has defended its actions and said it gave countries in the area appropriate notice. “China informed the relevant countries in advance, which demonstrates the openness and transparency of the Chinese military,” according to a statement from its Defense Ministry issued Tuesday.
Experts say that if there is a standard, it would be the Hague Code of Conduct which sets out regulations on ballistic missiles and their use. It expects states to provide notice at least 24 hours beforehand, but the code is not legally binding. Further, Tang said, China is not a member of the Hague Code of Conduct.
Much speculation remains around what was fired and when.
The People’s Liberation Army is known to make very little information public, but the secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council said on Wednesday that this was a JL-2 missile launched from waters off Guangdong, a southern Chinese province. The JL-2 is an older ballistic missile for submarines.
Chinese state media, on the other hand, presented experts saying it was likely a JL-3, which has a longer range than the JL-2. “The JL-3’s range can strike a target on the east side of the Pacific from the west side,” said Shao Yonglin, a military expert featured in an interview with state broadcaster CCTV.
As China becomes a major military power, it should expect more international scrutiny. If “China wants to become a major military power, it should be put under the same standards,” as countries such as the U.S, the UK and France, said Zhao, the nuclear expert…. PACNEWS
PACIFIC – DIPLOMACY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
NZ to discuss joining Fiji-Australia alliance
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — New Zealand has announced it will begin discussions with Australia and Fiji on the possibility of joining the newly established Ocean of Peace Alliance.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon welcomed this week’s announcement by Fiji and Australia to form a military alliance, describing it as a positive step for regional security.
“New Zealand and Australia share a close bond, with a military alliance that continues to go from strength to strength, and we also have a strong and enduring relationship with Fiji,” Luxon said.
He noted that New Zealand already works closely with both countries to promote a safer Pacific and said it was logical to explore participation in the new alliance.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance is a mutual defence treaty that commits members to cooperate, consult and respond collectively to shared security threats. The agreement also allows other Pacific nations to join with the consent of Fiji and Australia.
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said Pacific leaders have long championed Pacific-led solutions to regional security challenges, and the alliance reinforces that approach.
“Elevating our long-standing relationship with Australia and Fiji – and other Pacific nations – to the next level through an alliance would mean we become even closer partners,” Peters said.
Defence Minister Chris Penk said the opportunity to deepen defence cooperation comes as New Zealand and Australia mark 75 years of their alliance.
“New Zealand values the opportunity to grow Pacific unity and build stronger defence and security partnerships within our region. We are committed to the implementation of deeper defence and security cooperation with Fiji,” Penk said.
The New Zealand Government said it will now engage with Australia and Fiji to explore potential membership of the Ocean of Peace Alliance. Any decision to join will require Cabinet approval before proceeding through New Zealand’s parliamentary treaty process…. PACNEWS
FIJI – PEACEKEEPING MISSION: PMN PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Fiji military urged to review pregnancy rules for peacekeepers
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (PMN) — An independent gender assessment has called on Fiji’s military to review its pregnancy policies after finding women selected for United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions are removed from deployment if they become pregnant.
The findings are contained in the 2026 Measuring Opportunities for Women in Peace Operations (MOWIP) assessment, conducted by Ethos CRS and the DCAF Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance.
The report says women in the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) who become pregnant before or during a (UN) deployment are replaced, while men face no equivalent consequence for the same pregnancy.
Researchers described the practice as “a recurring problem” and said all personnel selected for deployment are required to undergo pregnancy testing before departure.
According to the report, one senior decision-maker told researchers that a woman who tested positive for pregnancy would not deploy because the RFMF “can’t afford to have someone pregnant” on a mission.
The assessment also found that while a pregnant woman is immediately identified, establishing whether a man is involved in the pregnancy requires a formal investigation.
Researchers identified another unofficial practice in which mothers of children younger than 12 months are prevented from deploying, a restriction that does not apply to fathers.
The report says the policies create unequal opportunities for women serving in peacekeeping roles. It also highlights broader challenges facing women in the military.
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces has about 9500 personnel, including around 3500 full-time soldiers and about 6000 members of the Territorial Force. Women make up a small share of the force, accounting for an estimated eight to 14 per cent of personnel.
According to the assessment, 88 per cent of women surveyed said breastfeeding facilities within the RFMF were inadequate, while only 20 per cent believed women felt comfortable breastfeeding or expressing milk at work.
At the same time, the report notes the military provides 98 days of paid maternity leave for a woman’s first three children, with personnel returning to their previous position and seniority after leave.
Most respondents also reported having access to flexible working arrangements, including the ability to leave work during family emergencies.
The assessment recommends the RFMF review its pregnancy-related deployment policies and ensure women affected by those decisions are treated with dignity and respect.
The findings come as Fiji’s military leadership and government have committed to using the assessment to drive reform across the disciplined forces.
Military Commander Major General Jone Kalouniwai said the report should be seen as a roadmap for change rather than criticism.
“The gender barrier assessment is not a checklist, it is a call to action,” he said at the launch of the MOWIP report in Suva last month.
“We will use its findings to transform our policies, culture, and practices to ensure the RFMF is a place where every Fijian, regardless of gender, can serve with dignity and purpose.”
Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs Pio Tikoduadua said the assessment challenged institutions to examine whether everyone had the same opportunity to serve and lead.
“If we are serious about preparing our institutions for the future, we must also be willing to ask difficult questions about whether everyone has the same opportunity to serve, to lead and to succeed,” he said at the report’s launch.
“That is what this assessment is about. It is about understanding, not assuming, and listening, not guessing.”
He said the report marked “an important milestone” for Fiji’s disciplined forces.
“Women’s meaningful participation is not simply about achieving equal numbers. It is about recognising that every individual deserves an equal opportunity to contribute their skills, experience and leadership,” Tikoduadua said.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said the findings would help shape practical reforms.
“The findings place Fiji in a stronger position to move beyond assumptions and develop practical, evidence-based roadmaps to achieve gender parity and create workplaces where everyone has an equal opportunity to contribute and succeed,” she said at the launch.
Kiran said women’s participation was about more than representation.
“Women’s participation is not simply about representation but about recognising talent, strengthening leadership, improving operational capability and ensuring institutions benefit from the full range of skills, perspectives and experiences women bring.”
Kiran said both the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force had entered the next phase of the Ministry’s Gender Transformative Institutional Capacity Development initiative to strengthen workplace systems and policies.
Fiji has long been one of the Pacific’s largest contributors to United Nations peacekeeping missions, making the report’s recommendations significant for both the country’s military and its international peacekeeping role…. PACNEWS
FIJI – DEFENCE/SECURITY: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Rights group raises human rights concerns over Australia-Fiji defence pact
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) has raised concerns over the newly announced Australia-Fiji mutual defence treaty, saying the expanded security partnership should not proceed without stronger human rights safeguards.
In a statement, the organisation acknowledged the signing of the Ocean of Peace Alliance and the broader Fiji-Australia Vuvale Union, which will deepen defence cooperation and deliver more than A$1 billion (US$693.99 million) in Australian support over the next decade.
However, ACIJ said it was “deeply concerned” that the expanded defence relationship had been announced despite what it described as unresolved allegations of torture, ill-treatment and custodial violence involving members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
“Australia cannot credibly champion human rights in the region while failing to ensure that its own defence cooperation reflects those same principles.”
The organisation said its concerns were based on its representation of a Fijian torture survivor who it says was subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by members of the Fijian military in Suva.
The organisation also pointed to recent allegations of custodial violence in Fiji, including the deaths of Jone Vakarisi and Sakiasi Radravu, saying the incidents highlight the need for greater accountability.
ACIJ said defence cooperation with countries facing credible allegations of serious human rights abuses should be subject to strict safeguards.
“Where there are credible concerns that a state’s security forces have committed serious human rights violations, defence cooperation should be subject to robust human rights conditions, including independent vetting, ongoing monitoring and accountability safeguards.”
The organisation noted that, unlike the United States’ Leahy Law, Australia does not have legislation requiring human rights vetting before providing security assistance to foreign military units.
ACIJ is calling on the Australian Government to establish a transparent, independent and legislated human rights vetting system covering all forms of defence cooperation with foreign security forces.
It also urged Canberra not to deepen defence cooperation where there are credible allegations of torture or other serious human rights violations unless appropriate vetting has been completed and any allegations that fall under Australian law have been properly assessed and investigated.
“Australia must ensure that any mutual defence assistance it provides does not legitimise alleged perpetrators, undermine accountability, or risk contributing to future human rights violations, said ACIJ…. PACNEWS
SOL – POLITICS: SBM ONLINE PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Wale unveils Blueprint for a stronger nation
HONIARA, 10 JULY 2026 (SBM ONLINE) — Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale says his government’s vision is to build a stronger, fairer and more confident Solomon Islands where people can trust public institutions, justice is protected, businesses have equal opportunities, natural resources are managed responsibly and every child has the chance to reach their full potential.
Launching the GREAT Coalition Government’s policy last week, Wale said the vision goes beyond creating wealth.
“Our vision is therefore not simply for a wealthier nation. Wealth without justice can divide. Growth without opportunity can exclude. Development without integrity cannot endure,” he said.
Wale acknowledged the contributions of previous governments, saying nation-building is a continuous process that spans generations rather than the work of a single administration.
“The GREAT Coalition Government does not begin from the position that everything done before us was wrong. Every government has contributed to the development of Solomon Islands, and those contributions deserve acknowledgement and respect,” he said.
However, he said every generation has a responsibility to address the challenges of its own time by strengthening what has worked, reforming what has not and preparing the country for future opportunities.
Wale said his government has chosen to strengthen institutions, build a productive economy that creates opportunities for Solomon Islanders, manage the nation’s natural resources responsibly and invest in its people.
“Above all, we choose to invest in our people, because they remain the greatest asset our nation possesses,” he said.
He said these priorities form the foundation of the GREAT Coalition Government’s policy document, which is organised around the government’s sectoral framework and outlines detailed reforms across every area of government.
Rather than focusing on every individual policy, Wale said the document is guided by four broad pillars that define the government’s national direction: strengthening institutions, building a productive economy, responsibly managing the country’s natural wealth and making sustained investments in people.
He said these four pillars are interconnected and together provide the framework for building a stronger, fairer and more prosperous Solomon Islands…. PACNEWS
COOKS – APPOINTMENT: COOK ISLANDS GOVT PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Michael Henry appointed Cook Islands High Commissioner to Fiji
RAROTONGA, 10 JULY 2026 (COOK ISLANDS GOVT) — Cook Islands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) announces the appointment of Michael Henry as the Cook Islands High Commissioner to the Republic of Fiji.
The appointment was approved by Cabinet on 6 May 2026 and received the agrément of the Government of the Republic of Fiji on 3 July 2025.
Henry succeeds Jim Armistead, who concluded his tenure as the Cook Islands’ first resident High Commissioner to Fiji after leading the establishment of the High Commission and strengthening the close partnership between the Cook Islands and Fiji.
A respected leader with extensive experience across the public and private sectors, Henry brings more than two decades of governance, strategic leadership, international engagement and commercial experience to the role. He has served as Chair of the Cook Islands Investment Corporation and has held numerous governance and directorship roles across organisations contributing to national development, infrastructure, tourism, economic growth and regional cooperation. His experience also includes representing the Cook Islands in regional and international forums on sustainable development and Pacific cooperation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Tingika Elikana said the appointment reflects the Government’s deliberate focus on economic diplomacy in the Cook Islands’ relationship with Fiji.
“The Government has been deliberate in appointing a High Commissioner who brings commercial depth to one of our most important relationships. Fiji is the commercial and institutional hub of the Pacific, and our ambition is clear, to translate our close partnership into practical opportunity for Cook Islanders through stronger trade, investment and business connections.”
“Michael’s private sector experience, his governance record and his proven ability to lead organisations through change and growth are precisely the capabilities this agenda requires. This appointment reflects the Government’s wider commitment to building strong economic and diplomatic relationships across the region, and to matching our representation abroad to the outcomes we seek for our people.”
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Immigration, Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, said Henry brings the breadth of leadership and experience the posting demands.
“Michael has built a distinguished career through his leadership, governance and commitment to serving the Cook Islands. He brings a strategic perspective, to an important relationship, particularly from a private sector perspective reflecting the Government’s ambition on strong relationships across the region, and a proven ability to lead organisations through change and growth.”
“I look forward to working closely with Michael as he leads our High Commission in Suva and advances the Cook Islands’ foreign policy priorities.”
Fiji is one of the Cook Islands’ closest partners in the Pacific, with cooperation spanning regional diplomacy, trade, development, education, security and people-to-people connections. As the host of many of the region’s principal organisations, Fiji also serves as an important hub for Pacific cooperation, making the Cook Islands High Commission in Suva a key overseas mission for advancing the country’s regional and international interests.
The Ministry congratulates High Commissioner-designate Michael Henry and wishes him every success as he prepares to represent the Cook Islands in Fiji…. PACNEWS
FIJI – CLIMATE CHANGE: PMN PACNEWS 1: Fri 10 Jul 2026
‘The trauma remains’: Fiji families finally leaving tent life after nearly six years
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (PMN) — After nearly six years of living in tents, 37 families forced from their village by climate disaster are preparing to move into permanent homes in northern Fiji.
For the people of Nabavatu Village in Macuata, Vanua Levu, the move marks more than an end of temporary shelter.
It is the beginning of rebuilding lives that were turned upside down when Tropical Cyclone (TC) Ana struck in January 2021.
For Village Headman Moritikei Waqawaqa, finally receiving the keys to a new home is something families have waited years for.
“We look forward to moving into the new houses and to finally call them our own,” Waqaqawa told PMN News.
“We are making all the necessary preparations so when the time comes for us to move, we are ready.”
Heavy rain brought by TC Ana triggered major landslides across the village, adding to damage already caused by TC Yasa just a month earlier.
The slips and deep cracks left the ground unstable and forced authorities to declare the village unsafe.
While the new homes promise security, Waqawaqa says the emotional scars remain.
“I told a visiting Auckland University team, our children and elders will forever live with the trauma they experienced. Even now, hearing heavy rain scares them,” Waqawaqa says.
“We hope the move will mark a new beginning for us, where we are safe from any climate disaster and that our children get to live normal lives.”
Leaving the village was painful, he says, because families were forced to leave behind their homes filled with generations of memories.
After evacuating to two nearby schools, the community moved to a church compound where tents provided by the Fijian and Australian governments became their home.
“We’ve been here since, rebuilding our lives with whatever was left after that disaster,” Waqawaqa says.
Life in the temporary camp was difficult. Waqawaqa says families dealt with disease outbreaks, deaths and tensions as they adjusted to years of cramped living conditions.
“We’ve been through hard times, it hasn’t been easy because we were forced to live in these conditions due to circumstances that were out of our control,” he says.
“But seeing and experiencing all the challenges just shows the resilience of the villagers.”
Nabavatu is home to 85 families, but the 37 households most directly affected by the disaster have been given priority in the first stage of the relocation.
For Waqawaqa, the experience has reinforced what Pacific communities have long been saying about climate change.
“Keitou sa lako curuma, keitou sa vakadinadinataka taka ni draki veisau e ka dina. We have gone through it, we have witnessed it, climate change is real.”
The new village sits on a 41.71-acre site about 800 metres from the original settlement.
The NZ$4.6 million (US$2.64 million) Nabavatu Relocation Project is Fiji’s first government-led planned relocation under its Standard Operating Procedures for Planned Relocation. New Zealand has provided the main development funding.
In a video update on the Fiji government Fiji’s Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, Mosese Bulitavu, says weather and building supply delays slowed construction but the project is now in its final stages.
“The contractors there are working according to a time frame, that by September or October at the latest the keys of those houses will be handed over to the respective 37 families,” Bulitavu says in a video update on the Fiji government Facebook page.
The new cyclone-resistant homes are built from reinforced concrete with corrugated iron roofs designed to withstand severe weather. Each includes two bedrooms, a kitchen, laundry and living area…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
SOL – BLUE CARBON: SOLOMON STAR PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Solomon Islands calls for stronger national policies to unlock blue carbon financing
HONIARA, 10 JULY 2026 (SOLOMON STAR) — At a high-level event hosted by the ESCAP Committee on Environment and Development in Bangkok, Thailand the Solomon Islands, through the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, Disaster Management and Meteorology (MECDM) called for stronger National Policies to unlock Blue Carbon financing.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Wayne Osopo Ghemu emphasised the urgent need for robust national policy environments to mobilise blue carbon finance.
The event, titled “Accelerating Cooperation for Blue Carbon Finance,” also marked the launch of the Regional Learning and Exchange Platform on Blue Carbon Finance, a collaborative initiative between ESCAP and the Landscape Alliance.
“This new platform aims to foster regional cooperation and innovative financing solutions for the restoration and protection of vital blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass meadows, and tidal wetlands.
“Blue carbon ecosystems are among the world’s most valuable natural assets,” stated Minister Ghemu.
“For Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries, these ecosystems are fundamental to climate resilience, economic development, and the wellbeing of our people”.
Despite their value in sequestering carbon and providing coastal protection, Minister Ghemu noted that investment remains insufficient. He outlined four critical policy priorities to build investor confidence and ensure equitable outcomes:
Coherent Legal Frameworks: Governments must establish clear strategies that clarify carbon rights and resource governance to attract long-term investment.
Scientific and Technical Capacity: Robust monitoring systems and ecosystem assessments are essential for making evidence-based investment decisions and ensuring environmental integrity.
Innovative Financing: Countries should explore diverse mechanisms such as carbon markets, blue bonds, blended finance, and debt-for-nature swaps to mobilise capital.
People-Centred Approaches: Most importantly, blue carbon initiatives must recognise Indigenous Peoples and coastal communities as genuine partners, ensuring transparent and equitable benefit-sharing arrangements that improve local livelihoods.
The Minister emphasised that no country could unlock the full potential of blue carbon finance alone. He praised the launch of the Regional Learning and Exchange Platform as a practical mechanism to harmonise approaches, share best practices, and strengthen the negotiating position of countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
“Blue carbon finance is far more than an environmental initiative. It represents an opportunity to advance climate action, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable economic development in an integrated and inclusive manner, Minister Ghemu said…. PACNEWS
PNG – AIRLINE: AIR NIUGINI PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Air Niugini resumes direct services between Port Moresby and Tokyo, Japan
PORT MORESBY, 10 JULY 2026 (AIR NIUGINI) — Air Niugini has confirmed the resumption of direct services between Port Moresby and Tokyo, Japan, effective from 18 July 2026.
The airline last operated this route in 2020. With the resumption of services, Air Niugini will operate two weekly flights every Wednesday and Saturday, perfect for business and leisure travellers alike.
Flight PX54 to Tokyo will take approximately six hours and fifty minutes, halving the present journey times via other routes. Flights depart Port Moresby at 2:10pm and arriving at Narita International Airport at 8:00pm. The return service will depart Narita at 9:40pm and arrive in Port Moresby the following day at 5:30am.
The resumption of this service marks a significant step in Air Niugini’s efforts to rebuild and expand its international network while promoting trade, tourism, and business opportunities for Papua New Guinea.
The direct connection will further strengthen Port Moresby’s role as a connecting gateway between Japan, Australia, and the Pacific Islands by providing smoother and more convenient onward connections through Air Niugini’s domestic and regional network.
Travelers from Japan will have easier access to key destinations across Papua New Guinea, Australia, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and other Pacific ports served by Air Niugini and its partner airlines.
Likewise, passengers from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific will benefit from more direct access to Japan for tourism, education, business, and medical travel.
Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer, Alan Milne, said the resumption of the Tokyo service represents an important milestone for the national airline.
“We are delighted to bring back this vital route, which is a key milestone in our efforts to expand and strengthen our international network, while further positioning Papua New Guinea as an important connecting gateway between Japan, Australia, and the Pacific Island countries,” Milne said.
“Port Moresby is strategically positioned to serve as a transit hub for travellers moving between Japan, Australia, and the Pacific, and this service will enhance those regional connections through Air Niugini’s growing network,” Milne said.
“The direct Narita service not only improves connectivity and convenience for our passengers, but also opens greater opportunities for tourism, trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Papua New Guinea and Japan. Papua New Guinea exporters also stand to benefit from the direct flights with faster to market cargo shipments of coffee, vanilla beans, seafood and other products expected,” he added.
The Tokyo flights will operate using a mix of Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. All Air Niugini international flights offer complimentary food and beverages, in-flight entertainment, and a generous 30kg checked baggage allowance.
Additional luggage allowances, lounge access and other benefits are available for Business Class customers and Kumul Club members.
Air Niugini is offering a range of special introductory fares to celebrate the return of the Port Moresby–Tokyo Narita service and tickets are selling fast. Customers may purchase tickets through Air Niugini sales offices, travel agents, and online booking platforms.
We look forward and are excited to start welcoming travellers onboard our new direct flights, and to further strengthening the long-standing relationship between Papua New Guinea and Japan.
Air Niugini remains committed to providing safe, reliable, and convenient travel options for passengers travelling between Papua New Guinea and Japan…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AGRIBUSINESS: NIT PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Fiji targets meat imports with sheep and goat farming push
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (NIT) — Fiji’s Farmer Training on Small Ruminant Husbandry and Management has been launched to boost sheep and goat production, reduce meat imports and strengthen rural livelihoods.
The training was launched at the Navuso Agricultural Technical Institute, bringing together 10 aspiring livestock farmers.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna linked the programme to the Government’s livestock and import substitution goals.
“Every additional sheep and goat raised locally represents another step towards reducing our dependence on imported meat while creating new income opportunities for our farmers,” he said.
Participants will receive training in animal husbandry, breeding, nutrition, pasture development, animal health, record-keeping and business management.
The training also covers climate-smart livestock production, including agroforestry systems using fodder trees such as Calliandra, Gliricidia and Leucaena.
Farmers will learn how sheep and goats can graze beneath coconut plantations and fruit orchards to reduce weed management costs and naturally fertilise soil.
The programme is also aimed at strengthening rural employment pathways.
“Small ruminant farming provides an excellent opportunity for young people to build successful agribusinesses while remaining in their communities,” Tunabuna said.
“At the same time, empowering women with technical livestock skills strengthens household incomes, improves family nutrition and contributes to stronger rural economies.”
The launch follows a week-long Feed Formulation Training for the Pacific, where agricultural officers, researchers and livestock professionals were trained in animal nutrition, feed formulation and the FeedAccess Online Feed Formulation App.
The feed training focused on local resources such as cassava, copra meal, fish meal and agricultural by-products as lower-cost alternatives.
Tunabuna said feed accounts for between 65 and 75 per cent of livestock production costs, making feed formulation skills important for productivity and profitability.
The programmes form part of efforts to improve food security, reduce imports and build a more sustainable livestock sector…. PACNEWS
FIJI – SUGAR FARMING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Fri 10 Jul 2026
Sugar Tribunal Registrar urges overhaul of Fiji’s sugar farming model
SUVA, 10 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) — Fiji’s sugar industry must move away from small-scale farming and adopt larger commercial farming models if it is to remain viable, Sugar Industry Tribunal Registrar Timothy Brown says.
Speaking at a parliamentary Standing Committee meeting on the sugar industry at the Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Training Centre in Lautoka Thursday, Brown said the sector could no longer rely on farming methods that had remained largely unchanged for decades despite major shifts in rural demographics and labour availability.
He said many cane farms were now only two to four acres in size, making it increasingly difficult for growers to earn sustainable incomes even when cane prices increased.
“There is no labour on the farms anymore. Families have changed, people are no longer living on the farms, and we have to rethink how this industry should exist,” he said.
“We need Government to take a serious look at the subdivision of good agricultural land and find ways to preserve it for farming.”
Brown said that as of June, 13,785 growers were registered, but only 10,365 were actively producing cane, while 3520 were recorded as nil producers.
He proposed consolidating idle cane land into commercial farms of about 1500 acres to improve productivity and efficiency.
Brown also called for the re-establishment of a central coordinating body similar to the former Sugar Commission, stronger marketing arrangements, and reviewing the Sugar Cane Growers Council to ensure growers elected their own representatives…. 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
Palau’s President warns of rising nuclear anxiety in the Pacific, after China missile test
By Johnny Blades, RNZ Pacific senior journalist
KOROR, 10 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr says countries of the wider region need to work together to reduce geopolitical tensions and the risk of nuclear conflict.
This comes after China’s test launch of a nuclear-capable ballistic missile with a dummy warhead into the South Pacific on Monday. Beijing said the test was “consistent with international law and customary international practice and is not directed at any specific country or target”.
Whipps spoke to RNZ Pacific about his country’s concerns over China’s actions and how Palau wants a more collaborative and transparent approach to international affairs in the Pacific.
Johnny Blades: Big news this week in the South Pacific with the test missile launch by China, a nuclear-capable missile test. What are your thoughts about that?
Surangel Whipps Jnr: Well, first of all, Palau was unfortunately in war during World War Two, a site of one of the bloodiest battles ever. And when the people of Palau passed their Constitution, which today is Constitution Day, 46 years ago, one of the parts of the Constitution was a nuclear free constitution, and I think that just goes to our ambition to preserve peace and never get into the situation that we were in World War Two.
So when China acts in very opaque or secretive launches like this, it raises anxiety, fears, and causes great concern for all of us that live on these islands that want to live in peace and harmony, and that was demonstrated last year in Honiara [at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)], when we all signed the Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration.
The missile really went right into the heart of the Pacific, crossing over all of us in the Pacific. Of course, Palau is very close to China, so anything that comes across comes near us. We know in 2024, they launched a missile, they didn’t inform us, this one is launched – they didn’t inform us, and these types of behaviours really go against long standing treaties. There’s the Hague Code of Conduct, which 145 states subscribe to, about voluntary pre-launch notifications – they didn’t follow that, so this is where we are in very concerning times with these types of activities.
We ask China to act and follow international treaties, respect sovereignty. We understand every country has a way to defend themselves, but at the same time they wouldn’t be allowed to put other countries in harm’s way, and that’s why it’s important that we follow law that we’ve established and treaties that we’ve established.
JB: Is Palau also concerned about the missile tests that the U.S regularly holds in the Pacific?
SWJ: Well, the U.S has a base in the Marshall Islands, they follow protocols and inform countries that are in their vicinity about what’s going on. So, I think we all understand that countries have to defend themselves, but the reason why we have these protocols is to ensure that we’re all informed and there’s a transparent process. What is the purpose of this testing? It seems to U.S that now we’re on a rapid buildup of nuclear capability, which the world was working toward reducing. So, we definitely need to work together to bring tensions down and reduce nuclear risk for our ocean.
JB: Were you just saying earlier that China didn’t inform your government before its missile test, because I know it did inform some of the regional countries, at least?
SWJ: Yes, it did not inform us and also occurred in 2024 where we weren’t informed. We also raise concerns then. Based on where they’re launching them from in China and ending up in the Pacific, they come over our area, and they could easily sway and end up on our islands, that’s that’s of course our concern.
We feel that it’s important that we’re transparent and we’re informed. Interestingly, Chen Bo, the special envoy for China, he was in Fiji when we were having [Forum Troika meeting]. He did not mention to anybody there that they were doing these tests, and this was just a few days before the launch.
You would think that a high official from the Chinese government, who saw me there and met with me, and wanted to talk about issues instead of what they were doing, was was quite odd.
JB: Your country is in an interesting position being one of the countries in the region that recognises Taiwan diplomatically, but I note you’ve sort of talked about being open to all partners, and with the Pacific Islands Forum summit coming up in your country, I think you’ve given the nod for China to also join the summit. Is that your approach, kind of like open to all?
SWJ: We have to understand that, first of all, the Pacific Island Leaders Forum that’s being hosted in Palau is a Pacific Island leaders forum, so that means it follows what the Pacific Island leaders agreed to. We all respect the other sovereignty. Yes, I have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. We don’t have diplomatic relations with China, but this is a Pacific Island Forum and under the Pacific Island Forum, China is a dialogue partner, Taiwan is a development partner, both countries contribute to the Pacific Islands Forum. So as partners, as I’ve always said, everyone is welcome.
Now, I’ve also made it very clear that there’s there’s meetings for dialogue partners, there’s meetings for develop partners. These are separate meetings. The only time that Taiwan wasn’t allowed to a Pacific Island Forum meeting was in Solomon Islands (last year’s PIF summit), but that wasn’t just Taiwan, it was all all partners were told they weren’t allowed to come.
What I consistently said is that in Palau, of course, everybody is welcome to participate according to all the ways that we participate in all other forums. That’s why China, as a dialogue partner, will come and participate as a developed partner. We don’t have a bilateral relationship, but I guess I’d say through the Forum we have a relationship, and that relationship is respected and valued, just like all relationships that we have with our partner.
The Forum is an opportunity to bring partners in and say, ‘How are you here to help promote the 2050 strategy? Are you here to help promote peace and security?’ I think at the Forum it’s important to bring China, and maybe they can share how they are promoting peace and security for us all in this blue Pacific, which is for us, we feel threatened and concerned and disappointed about their recent actions.
JB: Many Pacific leaders are making clear that Pacific Islands countries want peace. I’m just wondering, with all the geopolitical kind of competition, is it unhelpful that Australia, for instance, is very busy signing these sorts of defence and security treaties with various Pacific countries? Does it effectively ratchet up the tension when we need it to be going down?
SWJ: I believe that we should be working with partners to preserve peace and prosperity and freedom. Australia signing declarations with partners, like monument partners that share the same values that respect rule of law, freedom, and democracy is important.
Building alliances to me ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific that promotes peace that we all want. Palau has, of course, Compact of Free Association with the United States. It’s very clear our relationship is fine. And the United States has a working relationship with Australia. So, these all work together to ensure deterrence, because we all also believe in that if you want peace, you have to be prepared to deter.
JB: Do you think everyone needs to work together a bit more in the wider Pacific, including China and the U.S, in the Pacific Islands region, to be more collaborative?
SWJ: I think that’s always the goal – to be able to communicate clearly, so we know what everybody’s intentions are, operate in a transparent manner, and that’s why there’s all these treaties to work toward that area that we can trust each other and that we can work together to promote peace.
Unfortunately, for us in Palau, you would like to see China moving in that direction, but for Palau, which hasn’t been the case. China continues to disrespect our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) again, another research vessel in our area, and maybe it was, who knows, maybe it was here to travel the metal, that missile that was flying over. But this is why dialogue, transparency, builds trust, cooperation, and reduces tensions, and that’s I think where it needs to start from.
Unfortunately, China acts in manners that bully, for example, they didn’t spend time talking to me about the missile that they’re going to launch. They spent time lecturing me, totally disrespecting Palau, and telling us how to run the Pacific Island Forum, when the Forum has clear rules, the members of all group, too, and trying to tell us how we should run the Pacific Island Forum. If we don’t do it their way and deny certain countries from coming, then therefore, retaliate. I mean, what kind of language is that? And so that’s that’s deeply concerning to us. Then a few days later, launching missile just goes to show that they don’t respect our sovereignty. They act in a way to bully us and you are saying things like, ‘well, you’re just a country, we’re a big country’.
Obviously, we know we’re a small country, but we’re still a sovereign country, and our sovereignty should be respected, and also the integrity of the PIF should be respected, and it’s unfortunate they try to bully and and and do what they do. We all want peace, we want to promote peace and trust and cooperation, and that’s the goal, and that’s why they’re allowed to come to Palau, because about is working together in partnership.
JB: Do you think the Pacific Islands Forum that’s coming up in your country will be dominated by this dynamic, this tension of geopolitics, and dominated by defence discussions?
SWJ: I hope not. This conference should be about building resilience in the Pacific, working toward the 2050 Strategy. How do we have 100 percent renewable Pacific? How do we manage our ocean sustainably, and ask for investment to come into the Pacific, to help us develop fisheires and develop tourism, and the importance of protection of biodiversity so that we can really build a sustainable future, not just for the Pacific, but for the planet, because we believe that a healthy oceans and [give us a] planet.
The biggest security for us is an issue that should be talked about is sea-level rise, storms, the impacts of climate change, not these other geopolitical tensions, which, if anything, we should work to reduce, not inflame. I hope that by having everybody in Palau, we reduce those tensions, not increase them…. 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
How Beijing ‘tripled the size of its nuclear arsenal’ in six years
CANBERRA, 10 JULY 2026 (ABC) — When China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific earlier this week, countries in the region and across the world were shocked and alarmed.
The firing of the dummy warhead was the first time in two years Beijing had decided to test out its long-range missile arsenal — and the first time ever it had launched such a rocket from a nuclear-powered submarine.
The exact type of missile has yet to be confirmed by Beijing, but experts quoted by Chinese state media — where nothing is published without being state-sanctioned — have concluded it was one of the country’s newest pieces of military hardware.
That is the JL-3 missile, which was first displayed publicly at a military parade in Beijing last year.
The range of the mega-missile is estimated to be about 10,000 kilometres, putting countries like Australia easily within striking distance and heralding a new nuclear threat to millions of people across the Pacific.
China said the test was a routine part of training and was not aimed at any country or target.
But a security analyst said the test demonstrated the newest capabilities of China’s rapidly developing weaponry arsenal.
Beijing ‘tripled the size of its nuclear arsenal’
China has set itself a goal of transforming the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) into a modern fighting force by 2027, and a “world-class” military by 2050.
According to the U.S-based think-tank, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), China is undergoing “the largest qualitative and quantitative expansion of its nuclear arsenal ever”.
It said Beijing has “tripled the size of its nuclear arsenal” from “200 weapons to over 600” in the last six years. And the Pentagon estimates that number will climb to more than 1,000 nuclear missiles by 2030.
CSIS studies also concluded the PLA’s rocket force has built up the world’s largest arsenal of “ground-based conventional and dual-use missiles”.
The PLA Navy has also surpassed the U.S Navy in the number of battle force ships.
The staggering growth of the PLA has been underwritten by a sharp jump in defence spending, which has increased 13-fold in the last 30 years, according to CSIS.
This rapid advancement of China’s arsenal has been increasingly displayed across the Pacific throughout the last few years.
It started in 2024, when China broke a four-decade rocket-testing freeze and launched a land-based ballistic missile into international waters.
It was seen at the time as an extraordinary show of military force in the Pacific, an area where China had been trying to exert economic, geopolitical and security clout.
Since then, China has engaged in a series of escalating military manoeuvres in the region that analysts say is designed to project power and dominance in the Pacific.
They include:
– Laser shone at RAAF plane, February 2022
Australia says a Chinese military vessel shone a laser at an Australian maritime aircraft in an ‘act of intimidation’ that put Defence Force lives at risk. China says the ship was abiding by international law.
– First missile test, September 2024
China test-fires an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean. This land-based launch is the first time in more than 40 years China has tested an ICBM out in international waters.
– Live-fire drills, February 2025
China conducts live-fire exercises publicly for two days near Australia’s east coast, in the Tasman Sea and in Pacific international waters, signalling China’s naval strategy enters a new phase.
– Unveils cable cutter, March 2025
China unveils a new cable cutter, reportedly able to slice through cables at depths of up to 4,000 metres, after it is repeatedly accused of deliberately severing Taiwan’s undersea cables.
– ‘Spy ship’ spotted, March 2025
Australian agencies monitor a high-tech Chinese research ship which operates a deep-sea submersible vessel, as it makes its way through southern Australian waters, passing the Victorian coastline.
– Military parade, September 2025
China hosts its largest-ever military parade, with President Xi Jinping flanked by North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, to mark 80 years since Japan’s defeat at the end of World War II.
– Flares released, October 2025
A Chinese fighter jet releases flares ‘very close’ to an Australian surveillance plane in the South China Sea, in another potentially dangerous encounter between the two militaries.
– Flotilla sails close, November 2025
The government confirms it’s tracking several Chinese warships in the Philippines Sea. It is later revealed the Chinese flotilla passed within 10 kilometres of Australia’s territorial waters.
– Second missile test, July 2026
A Chinese strategic nuclear submarine successfully launches a warhead-carrying missile into international waters in the South Pacific. Australia’s PM labels the test “provocative”.
China’s declaration of a ‘nuclear triad’
Jennifer Parker from the University of Western Australia’s Defence and Security Institute said this week’s test firing was a clear demonstration of the growth of China’s military capability.
“If you go back over 10 years ago, before 2015, China’s submarine-launched ballistic missile capability was only a JL-1 that was 2,000 to 3,000 kilometres [in range],” she said.
“Now, they have ballistic missiles that can be launched from submarines that can range over 10,000 kilometres.
“That’s a dramatic change in capability in just over a decade.”
Professor Parker said the latest ballistic missile test was a public declaration that China had achieved “a nuclear triad”.
“[That’s] the ability to launch nuclear weapons from air, surface, and sea. It has that second-strike capability, which is now long range,” she said.
“We’ve learned in the last two years that China also has a continuous at-sea deterrent, so the ability to keep its nuclear arms, nuclear-powered submarines, at sea 24/7, 365 [days].
“All of that is wrapped up in this demonstration of capability. And that is really significant in terms of how far China has come.”
A broader strategy in the Pacific
This week, China’s Defence Ministry claimed the nation consistently maintains its nuclear forces at the minimum level required for national security and pursues a defensive national defence policy.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said this week’s test was part of China’s routine training activities and not directed at any specific country.
“I would like to emphasise that China is committed to the path of peaceful development and adheres to a nuclear strategy of self-defence,” she said.
“We have always maintained our nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security, and there is no need for relevant countries to over-interpret this.”
But Professor Parker said the tests needed to be viewed as part of China’s broader strategy in the Pacific.
“It’s not just the development of China’s military, it’s the employment of their military in an aggressive fashion throughout the region, which shows an intent to project power and dominate the region through power.”
She said this was only the second time in Australia’s history where there had been a regional power that could “reach out and touch” Australia and intercept its sea lines of communication.
“The range at which China can engage with its missiles really, I guess, re-emphasises the fact that it’s a fallacy that distance is Australia’s protection,” she said…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Samoa gathering builds innovative, cross-regional partnerships for Australian Awards Fellows
APIA, 10 JULY 2026 (SPREP) — The continuation of a programme aimed to improve climate and health outcomes across the Indo-Pacific and Caribbean regions has brought fifteen emerging climate and health leaders from 13 Pacific and Caribbean countries to Samoa this week.
They are in Apia for the ‘Enhancing climate, energy and health resilience across the Pacific and Caribbean’ programme implementation workshop at the Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)/Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) Vailima headquarters.
The fellows from Fiji, Kiribati, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Suriname and Samoa, is the third cohort of the Australian Awards Fellowship, programme funded by the Government of Australia.
Earlier this year, The University of Melbourne, in partnership with the PCCC/SPREP, and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), launched the programme in Melbourne.
Following the launch, the fellows went through six weeks of immersive leadership, capacity development, knowledge exchange and networking Fellowship at the University of Melbourne.
Each participant had to prepare a research output with the support of a mentor in the lead up the Samoa workshop.
SPREP Director General, Sefanaia Nawadra, welcomed the fellows to Samoa, and emphasised the importance of this week’s gathering.
“The follow-up implementation workshop this week will test how well you used that knowledge gained from your time in Melbourne to advance country-level outputs aligned with your national priorities to strengthen climate-resilient health systems, advance clean energy solutions, and integrate climate-health considerations into policy and planning processes,” said Nawadra.
“This Fellowship represents far more than an academic programme. It is a powerful example of how innovative, cross-regional partnerships can bring together science, policy, and practice to respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time – climate change, energy security, and public health resilience.”
The ‘Enhancing climate, energy and health resilience across the Pacific and Caribbean’ programme is co-hosted by Melbourne Climate Futures and the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health in partnership with PCCC and is funded by a $500,790 (US$347,553) grant by the Government of Australia.
Acting Australia High Commissioner to Samoa, His Excellency Simon Dawkins, congratulated the fellows for their hard work.
“Australia Awards is about people,” he said. “It’s about empowering individuals to lead change, strengthening institutions and building enduring connections between Australia, our neighbours and a global network of professionals committed to making a difference in their communities.”
The programme aims to deliver comprehensive specialist training on thematic priority areas including Adaptation considerations in Small Island States, research and practice considerations including effective community engagement and leadership and advocacy to support adaptation and resilience.
It also covers Policy and programme development to achieve climate-resilient development, pursue green energy and just transitions in Small Island States as well effective knowledge exchange and communication strategies.
Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, Dr Mark Bynoe, reflected that climate change impacts are universal, and the work being done in Samoa this week is timely and relevant to their communities in the Caribbean.
“I would like to acknowledge the support from the Australian Government which has allowed us to be part of this workshop,” he said. “Although we may be separated by distance and oceans, the Pacific and Caribbean countries face similar challenges from the impacts of the existential threat of climate change.”
The practical programme is designed to increase Fellows’ expertise, advancing their efforts to alleviate climate impacts upon returning home.
Kathryn Bowen, Professor of Environment, Climate and Global Health and Deputy Director, Melbourne Climate Futures, University of Melbourne, highlighted the value of partnerships, and collaboration to respond to the needs of their communities.
“You are all leaders in your own rights,” she said. “You are on the front line of climate action in your countries, regionally and globally, we have already seen the incredible impact of all of these partnerships in this current round of the Australia Awards fellowships.”
The ‘Enhancing climate, energy and health resilience across the Pacific and Caribbean’ programme workshop in Samoa ends on Friday…. PACNEWS
