In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific Civil Society condemns China ICBM test, urges leaders to reject all military build-up
2. AUST — China officials warned over ‘provocative’ missile test
3. PACIFIC — NZ ‘should not be fazed’ by any objection from China to Pacific defence alliance
4. AUST — Australia backs NZ getting aboard Pacific peace train
5. FIJI — No plans to cut Fiji Cabinet size: Finance Minister Immanuel
6. COOKS — Cook Islands: Main electoral roll open for inspection ahead of 2026 general election
7. FIJI — Fiji Navy ramps up maritime patrols to deter illegal activity
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Tuna Wars: one of the world’s most dangerous jobs
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Prolonged PNG dry weather threatens food security
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Exam tourism: Reviving Guam’s forgotten market
11. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Threats may change, but geography doesn’t. It’s time for Australia to be a good neighbour to the Pacific
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — Pacific emergency broadcasting: vital but critically underfunded
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Vanuatu’s tourism sector advances plastic phase-out through strengthened national sustainability standards
PAC – MISSILE TEST: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Pacific Civil Society condemns China ICBM test, urges leaders to reject all military build-up
SUVA, 13 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS)— A coalition of Pacific regional civil society organisations has condemned China’s recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test across the Pacific Ocean and called on Pacific leaders to reject all missile tests and military expansion in the region, regardless of which country is responsible.
In a joint statement, the Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance said it “unequivocally condemns the recent test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) by the People’s Republic of China across the Pacific Ocean.”
“We oppose all forms of militarisation and nuclear threats in the Pacific, irrespective of which state is responsible.
We cannot condemn missile tests, military build-ups and strategic military expansion undertaken by one power, while remaining silent when comparable actions are undertaken by another.”
The alliance also criticised continued United States missile testing over the Pacific, the expansion of military alliances, including AUKUS, large-scale military exercises such as RIMPAC, Valiant Shield and Talisman Sabre, and the expansion of foreign military presence and infrastructure across the region.
“For Pacific peoples, this is not an abstract geopolitical contest. It is our home.”
The statement was issued during a month marking several nuclear anniversaries in the Pacific, including the 80th anniversary of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, the 60th anniversary of France’s first nuclear test at Moruroa Atoll, the 41st anniversary of the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior, and the ninth anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
The alliance said these anniversaries remain a lived memory for Pacific peoples and that another missile crossing the Pacific “cannot be separated from that history.”
It said the Pacific’s vision of becoming an Ocean of Peace is based on justice, sovereignty, self-determination, environmental stewardship and the wellbeing of its people, not military deterrence.
“The PRNGO Alliance rejects the notion that military deterrence delivers peace. Escalating military competition is fundamentally inconsistent with the Pacific’s aspiration for an Ocean of Peace.”
The alliance also called on Pacific governments to reaffirm the Treaty of Rarotonga as it approaches its 40th anniversary, describing it as the foundation of the region’s commitment to peace and security.
It urged Pacific leaders to unequivocally condemn all missile tests conducted in or across the Pacific Ocean, reject the continued militarisation of the Blue Pacific, strengthen the Treaty of Rarotonga, support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and ensure any future Ocean of Peace framework is Pacific-led and centred on human security, environmental protection, Indigenous rights, decolonisation and demilitarisation.
“The Pacific has already paid the price of being treated as a testing ground, a military frontier, and a dumping ground for other nations’ ambitions.
“The Pacific Ocean is not a theatre for great-power rivalry. It is our home. It is the foundation of our cultures, identities, livelihoods and futures.”
The statement was issued by the PRNGO Alliance and endorsed by the Pacific Conference of Churches, the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO), the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), the Pacific Network on Globalisation (PANG) and Oxfam in the Pacific……PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
China officials warned over ‘provocative’ missile test
CANBERRA, 13 JULY 2026 (AAP)—Australia has raised concerns about Beijing’s missile launch into the Pacific with multiple levels of Chinese officials as one minister declares the test the act of a poor neighbour.
The fallout of China’s long-range missile test has continued almost a week after it fired a dummy warhead into the South Pacific.
The launch came with little warning and fell within hours of Australia and Fiji inking a mutual defence pact last Monday.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the test-firing had hurt Beijing’s standing in the Pacific.
“We’ve expressed our concern to the Chinese government at a number of levels and we’ll keep doing that,” he told ABC’s Insiders programme on Sunday.
“I don’t think this was conducive to China’s standing in the region and I think it was a provocative action.”
China has been working to expand its influence in the Pacific, making strategic infrastructure investments in island nations and seeking policing and security agreements.
But in a move widely hailed as a diplomatic coup, Australia joined Fiji in the island nation’s first defence alliance.
Other Pacific nations could join the pact and New Zealand has already expressed interest in becoming a signatory.
Conroy said any conflict in the region would be “a nightmare scenario” while refusing to say if Australia had the capability to counteract a long-range missile strike.
“It’s important not to go into too many hypotheticals,” he said, instead pointing to the government’s investment in missile defence systems.
“We need to do more, and that’s why we’re investing $30 billion(US$20 billion) in it, including a 400 percent increase in our active missile defence investment, including introducing medium-range, ground-based air defence systems.”
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has called for a Pacific-wide pact, warning Beijing “don’t threaten us” following the missile launch.
Chinese officials have defended the test, saying it was a routine part of the nation’s military training programme and was consistent with international law.
“We hope relevant countries will not read too much into it,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning previously said.
But Conroy said China’s actions again demonstrated regional security could only be provided from within the Pacific and Australia was ready for conversations about a broad defence pact.
“This would take a number of years if the rest of the Pacific was up for it, but ultimately it’s a decision of all the Pacific leaders,” he said.
Labor cabinet minister Jason Clare said China’s actions were not the way to make friends and expand influence.
“You don’t make friends by firing a missile over someone’s backyard,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
“Good neighbours don’t shoot stuff over someone else’s house,” he said……PACNEWS
PAC – SECURITY/DIPLOMACY: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
NZ ‘should not be fazed’ by any objection from China to Pacific defence alliance
WELLINGTON, 13 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—The Foreign Minister says China might call it an act of provocation to join the Ocean of Peace Alliance, but New Zealand should not be fazed.
Winston Peters has just returned from Singapore and Japan, where he discussed China’s ballistic missile test, and says normalising such a test as regular activity is not acceptable.
“It’s important that Pacific countries and those that are seriously concerned about the long-term implications of such potential behaviour are resisted right here and right now, and that’s what we’re doing,” Peters told RNZ.
He said “China does what China does if it gets away with it”, but if there was resistance, the direction could be different in the future. If there was no resistance, “it’s likely to carry on.”
Last week, China test-launched a long-range ballistic missile with a dummy warhead, which the Prime Minister said was unacceptable.
RNZ understands the missile flew over the Exclusive Economic Zones of the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Tuvalu and Kiribati, and landed in waters near Tuvalu and Kiribati.
The missile firing came shortly after a new defence treaty was signed between Australia and Fiji, which the New Zealand government has since signalled its interest in joining.
Speaking to Morning Report on Monday, Peters confirmed New Zealand is in exploratory talks with Australia and Fiji about joining their military alliance.
He acknowledged China might say its an act of provocation, but that was just a statement the country would make automatically “whether it’s true or not.”
“That’s the reality, and we should not be fazed by that.
“They’re going to make statements like that. And the next question for us is: It’s called the Pacific. The Pacific means a certain thing.”
He said the blue continent was a peaceful zone and the Pacific region had a right to ensure that, and insist it remained that way.
“If any country objects to that, well, that’s the way it is. But we’re not going to change our view of the theatre-front yard in which we live.”
Asked about China calling Australia’s AUKUS participation provocative and destabilising, Peters suggested it was “highly performative” and of “no value at all in terms of the substance of the matter” to call updating military equipment provative and destabilising.
“They would have made the same complaint 40 years ago when we were updating then, surely to be consistent.
“Now, this new type of PR propaganda approach on world affairs has certain features, but whether it’s got any integrity or merit is another matter.”
He said New Zealand supports peace, but not at any price.
On joining the Ocean of Peace Alliance, he maintained it would need to be a cabinet decision, after various factors were considered such as what it meant for New Zealand, what New Zealand could contribute and what assistance factors look important to the countries as a united group.
What New Zealand would want, he said, would be interoperability and joint procurement, so the countries could work together.
Peters wouldn’t be drawn on whether it was his expectation New Zealand would join the alliance, “we would hope that we could get to that position, but we’ll have to wait and see until the discussions are over.” …. PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Australia backs NZ getting aboard Pacific peace train
CANBERRA, 13 JULY 2026 (AAP)—Australian foreign minister has welcomed plans by New Zealand to join a defence alliance between Australia and Fiji.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance was signed last Monday by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka, with each country committing to come to the other’s aid if they were attacked.
The text of the agreement also opened up the possibility of other Pacific nations joining.
Last Thursday, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said the country was considering signing up to the alliance, aimed at curbing Chinese influence in the Pacific.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the inclusion of the trans-Tasman ally to the partnership would be a good step forward.
“We welcome the New Zealand government’s interest in joining the Ocean of Peace Alliance with Australia and Fiji once it enters into force,” she said in a statement.
“As Australia’s longstanding ally, and a key defence partner in the Pacific, New Zealand would make a valuable contribution to the Ocean of Peace Alliance in support of regional peace and security.
“We look forward to engaging with Fiji and New Zealand in the discussions.”
New Zealand’s only formal alliance is with Australia, while Australia has four: New Zealand, the U.S, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
The Ocean of Peace Alliance will be backed up by $1 billion (US$690 million) to be spent over the next 10 years.
Luxon said he had already spoken to his Australian and Fijian counterparts about the agreement.
“Fiji and Australia announced a commitment to become military allies, and New Zealand welcomes this,” he said in a statement.
“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.
“We already work with both countries on how we can develop a safer region for all, so engaging with them on this alliance is logical.”
A final decision on whether New Zealand commits to joining the alliance will need to be made by the country’s cabinet and parliament…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CABINET: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
No plans to cut Fiji Cabinet size: Finance Minister Immanuel
SUVA, 13 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN) —Fiji Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says Government will not shrink the size of Cabinet to cut costs, but has left the door open for a fresh round of salary cuts for ministers if the fuel crisis deepens.
Immanuel made the comment during the Dialogue Fiji western division National Budget Forum, held in partnership with the Nadi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nadi on Saturday.
“Instead of reducing the size we look at reducing the cost, starting with the salaries,” he said, adding Government considered cutting assistant minister posts, but found they were needed for parliamentary and legal work.
Cabinet and MPs took a mandatory 20 per cent pay cut in April, approved unanimously in Parliament amid the global fuel crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict.
Speaking during the forum’s question and answer session, Immanuel said ministers had given up support staff and vehicles, now travelling only in their official car with their driver.
“If worse comes to worse, then we’ll put in more measures,” he said, when asked whether ministers were sharing the sacrifice being asked of ordinary Fijians.
He confirmed ministerial salaries had been cut by around 20 per cent, with room for a deeper cut.
“It can be 50 percent if things worsen,” Immanuel said.
He said Government had cut $200 million (US$100 million) from operating expenditure this year, offset by one-off election, referendum and census costs……PACNEWS
COOKS – ELECTORAL ROLL: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Cook Islands: Main electoral roll open for inspection ahead of 2026 general election
RAROTONGA, 13 JULY 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS)—With just over four weeks until the 2026 General Election on 12 August, Cook Islands Electoral Office is encouraging all eligible voters to inspect the Main Electoral Roll and ensure their enrolment details are correct.
According to the Electoral Office, printed copies of the 2026 Parliamentary General Election Main Roll are available for inspection at the Electoral Office, the Ministry of Justice in Avarua, Island Administration offices throughout the Pa Enua (outer islands), and online via the Cook Islands Statistics Office website.
Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua said enrolment by first-time voters had been slow, though there are encouraging signs of increased engagement.
“At this stage, first-time young voter enrolment has been slow, but with Census teams out in the community and outreach being carried out by youth organisations, participation is looking better compared with previous elections,” Tangimetua said.
She also confirmed that people receiving their Permanent Resident (PR) status during the citizenship ceremony on 10 July would be able to enrol to vote once they met the legal eligibility requirements (PR certificates).
Under the Cook Islands Electoral Act 2004, a person is eligible to enrol if they – are a Cook Islander, New Zealand citizen or hold Permanent Resident status in the Cook Islands; have lived continuously in the Cook Islands for at least 12 months at some stage; are aged 18 years or older; have lived in the Cook Islands continuously for the three months immediately before applying to enrol; have not been convicted of electoral corruption or a serious criminal offence punishable by death or imprisonment of one year or more, unless they have received a free pardon or completed their sentence; and are of sound mind.
Generally, electors must enrol in the constituency where they have most recently lived continuously for at least three months.
People can become disqualified if they leave the Cook Islands, or their electorate, for more than three consecutive months.
However, the law provides several important exceptions. Time spent away for education, technical training, medical treatment, diplomatic service, or accompanying a family member serving overseas does not automatically affect a person’s enrolment, provided the absence meets the conditions set out in the Electoral Act.
Anyone who becomes disqualified because of an extended absence can requalify by returning to the Cook Islands and living continuously in the country, or in their electorate, for at least three months.
Tangimetua urges all electors to check the Main Roll as early as possible.
“We encourage everyone to inspect the Main Roll to ensure their enrolment details are correct. If you believe there is an error or omission, or wish to lodge an objection, please contact the Electoral Office,” she said…. PACNEWS
FIJI – MARITIME SURVEILLENCE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Fiji Navy ramps up maritime patrols to deter illegal activity
SUVA, 13 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division will increase its maritime patrols border surveillance after boarding and inspecting 98 vessels during the first phase of Operation Yadra Matua, Naval Division Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva says.
The operation, run as part of Navy Month, deployed two guardian-class patrol boats, several small boats, two surveillance aircraft and more than 85 personnel across Fiji’s territorial waters.
“We have operations Yadra Matua that was ongoing,” Commodore Natuva said.
Air patrols sighted and verified 28 maritime contacts, with a small number of non-compliant vessels handed over to authorities for further action.
RFNS Savenaca and RFNS Timo patrolled Fiji’s western and eastern waters, while small-boat teams covered the Northern Division and the Suva-to-Navua corridor.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan and a Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency King Air provided aerial surveillance, supported by the Intelligence Fusion Centre at the Vuvale Maritime Essential Services Centre.
Building on lessons from Exercise Limasagavulu in 2025, the Fiji Navy said it would now adopt a more proactive approach to “detecting, deterring and disrupting” illegal maritime activity.
Commodore Natuva said the operation coincided with the launch of a 10-year strategic plan, unveiled during the Navy’s 51st anniversary parade on 06 July.
Navy Month continues with sporting events culminating on 24 July and a Veterans’ Day honouring former servicemen and women…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – TUNA INDUSTRY: SBS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Tuna Wars: one of the world’s most dangerous jobs
HONIARA, 13 JULY 2026 (SBS)—According to fisheries officials in the Pacific, one of the most difficult to pin down breaches when it comes to overfishing is the ability to monitor catch – and ensure compliance with fishing licences.
In an effort to combat this – fisheries observers are stationed on many commercial fishing vessels to keep watch – but it is also considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.
The global tuna industry is valued at about 40 billion US dollars per year – but according to experts, a lack of transparency when it comes to the volume of fish caught at sea
Is the greatest threat to the sustainability of the fishery.
This is Allan Rahari, the Interim Deputy Director General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency and the Director of Fisheries Operations.
“The biggest risk for our regions are mainly what we call unreported fishing, meaning fishing vessels are not providing their catch reports accurately.”
To combat this, most Pacific countries mandate fisheries observers to be stationed on all purse seine vessels – which use a net to target schools of fish like skipjack and yellow fin tuna.
Rahari again:“Observers have been mainly used to support science work, particularly collection of data, but now observers are being used to collect also compliance information.”
Charlyn Golu is the deputy director of the offshore division for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Solomon Islands.
She oversees the nation’s fisheries observer training programme.
CHARLYN: “They train on fisheries laws. How to collect accurate data to identify species and also they train on sea safety. They are like a policeman at sea.”
REPORTER: “And is it a dangerous role?”
CHARLYN: “I think so, I don’t want to go there!”
According to the Association of Professional Observers, since 2015, at least 14 fisheries observers have gone missing or died at sea – some under what human rights groups identify as suspicious circumstances.
One of those is I-Kirabati observer, Eritara Aati Kaierua, who died aboard a Taiwanese flagged vessel, the Win Far 636 in 2020.
David Hammond, a former UK military seafarer and English barrister, is the founder of Human Rights at Sea International.
“The first coroner who actually saw the body highlighted in the official and publicly available reports that Eritara died from a blunt force trauma to the head.That second, and in fact, the third review from independent coroners, which did it remotely, did not see the body, changed the findings to death by natural causes. Eritara was 40 at the time,was fit to do his work, had been signed off to do his work and was an experienced seafarer.”
Human rights at Sea obtained CCTV footage from the vessel which showed Eritara’s final moments:
“And also highlighted masked crew carrying his body along the corridor outside his cabin.”
Six years on – the NGO is still advocating for answers on behalf of Eritara’s family.
Hammond again:“He had a logbook and that logbook was eventually found to be incomplete with sections removed, which was one of the 26 unexplained and outstanding questions that we highlighted from our investigation and to this day still remain outstanding.”
SBS News has contacted Kiribati authorities for comment, including the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, the police, the attorney-general’s office and the office of the president, but did not receive a response.
SBS News has been unable to contact the owner of the vessel Win Far 636, to put further questions to them.
It’s clear being an observer is a job that involves courage – but we’re told a fear of retribution while at sea, has rendered some afraid to speak publicly about their experiences.
Jude Piruku, is an assistant for the observer program in Solomon Islands
He worked as a fisheries observer for 10 years, until 2019 and says at the time he felt anxious boarding a fishing vessel to do his job.
“The fear of getting shown overboard, the fear of getting murdered, the fear of the boat sinking. Once you’ve known the crew, get to know the crew after a few weeks and that fear settles down. You can feel safe onboard, you can do your job.”
Observers can spend up to months at sea – Jude says the financial benefit, passion for the ocean and ability to see the world are draw cards to an otherwise challenging profession.
REPORTER: “What compliance breaches did you witness?”
JUDE: “Purse seine vessel setting on whales associated with free schools to the schools, shark finning. On one of my trips on a Chinese longliner, I was obstructed from doing my job by the captain and it was reported.”
REPORTER: “Do you feel any changes have occured in the profession to make it safer?”
JUDE: “We now have the observer compensation scheme. Your family gets compensated if you lose a life.”
Allan Rahari says safety tools are also used to help with security measures.
“Some of the safety tools include the personal locater beacons, for some reason, they fall overboard, those beacons can be activated Also, they do have safety devices on them. So when they are harassed when on fishing vessels by the crew, they can press the devices that will send out an SOS.”
While fisheries observers play a vital role, it’s stressed, they are not the silver bullet when it comes to curtailing overfishing.
According to Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources, electronic monitoring technology featuring tools like GPS, video cameras and sensors are increasingly being rolled out on commercial fishing vessels, to support verification of reporting and adherence to the rules.
“We install the cameras on board so they record 24 hours operations of the activities on board. So it’s kind of reducing the illegal activities, knowing that the crews on board will know that the camera, they will be on cameras, might reduce the risk of doing illegal activities as well,” said Charlyn Golu.
An effort to keep supply chains honest – and hold the industry’s ‘big fish’ to account…. PACNEWS
PNG – FOOD SECURITY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Prolonged PNG dry weather threatens food security
PORT MORESBY, 13 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —Households and organisations should start conserving water and electricity and manage their spending carefully as the dry weather may threaten food security and increase the cost of living, PNG Independent Consumer and Competition (ICCC) says
ICCC commissioner and chief executive officer Roy Daggy said if El Nino worsened, “the Government may consider recommending the declaration of a State of Emergency, which would in turn activate ICCC’s special emergency powers.”
The warning followed confirmation from the National Weather Service that the El Niño conditions were likely to affect the country.
He said the dry weather could threaten food security, increase the cost of living and place additional strain on essential services such as water, electricity, and transport.
Daggy said the likely effects of El Niño could include:
*Increasing food prices due to lower agricultural output and increased reliance on imported food;
*Increased costs of essential services such as electricity, water and transport, particularly where water levels fell and fuel costs increased;
*Difficulties for farmers in accessing inputs and maintaining production, which could reduce crop yields and contribute to higher food prices even after the dry period ended; and
*Greater financial pressure on households, particularly rural families that relied heavily on subsistence farming for their daily food supply.
Daggy said consumers should begin taking practical steps now to reduce the potential impact of the dry spell on their households and communities.
“Families should also plan ahead, ration food supplies where necessary and take practical steps to ensure they can
meet their daily needs during the dry period.”
He said the ICCC’s current regulatory oversight was limited to a number of declared goods and services, including basic household items such as flour, sugar, rice and fuel, as well as certain essential services, including water and sanitation, fuel and public transport….PACNEWS
GUAM – EXAM TOURISM: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 13 Jul 2026
Exam tourism: Reviving Guam’s forgotten market
HAGATNA, 13 JULY 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Before the pandemic, about 5,000 professionals from Japan, Korea, China and other Asian countries would come to Guam each year to take professional licensing and certification exams.
That number has now cratered, with many choosing to take these exams in their home countries.
The Prometric Test Centre at the University of Guam, operated by the School of Business and Public Administration, believes this niche market could still be revived.
Randy Jung, director of operations at the Prometric Test Centre, said cultivating strategic partnerships with hotels, airlines, tourism stakeholders and professional education organisations could help Guam restore this forgotten segment of the tourism market.
“Exam Tourism” would initially target accountants in Asian countries who want to obtain a Certified Public Accountant license.
Jung said accountants who choose to take the CPA exam at international testing centres are often charged an additional international administration fee of US$390 per exam. The fees are even higher in some countries, such as India, according to the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy.
Since CPA candidates must pass four sections to become licensed, those additional fees can exceed US$1,500 if all four sections are taken internationally, Jung said.
By coming to Guam, these CPA candidates would avoid those international administration fees and just pay Guam’s local testing fee, resulting in potential savings of about US$1,100 across all four exam sections, he added.
It’s not just about cost savings but also about creating a unique value proposition, Jung said. “Exam candidates are fundamentally different from traditional leisure travelers. They are purpose-driven travelers who have already committed to taking a professional examination,” he said.
The strong dollar and weaker local currencies have often been cited as a factor behind the tourism slowdown, but Jung believes this market should be evaluated separately from traditional tourism trends.
“CPA candidates already incur significant expenses for exam preparation, accommodations and travel. Guam provides an opportunity to bundle these expenses into a short academic trip while avoiding the additional international administration fees associated with taking the exam in their home countries,” he said.
Jung pointed out that this market travels for education and professional advancement, rather than leisure. These CPA candidates often travel with a spouse, family member, or a friend and would extend their stay, creating additional economic benefits for the island, he added.
CPA candidates would only be the starting point, Jung said. They are an ideal jump-off point because the market is already established with high volume and a clear pricing advantage that Guam can immediately capitalise on.
The long-term vision is much broader, he said. “Guam already administers numerous professional and academic examinations through Prometric and other testing programs,” Jung said.
Potential markets include healthcare professionals, physicians, dentists, physical therapists and other professional credentialing programs.
For instance, he said, a group from Jeju Tourism University in Korea will travel to Guam this August to take the American Board of Opticianry and National Contact Lens Examiners examinations. This is an annual program, and this year’s group consists of six students and one professor who will stay on Guam for five nights, Jung said.
What surprised him was learning that some hotel rates offered to this group were nearly double the rates available through online booking platforms.
“This highlights an important point: if Guam is not price-competitive, we risk losing these visitors to destinations such as Hawaii,” Jung said.
The goal, Jung said, is to develop reasonable and competitive packages that encourage these groups to continue choosing Guam year after year.
“Ultimately, this concept can expand beyond CPA candidates and evolve into a broader ‘Exam Tourism’ ecosystem,” he added.
Jung mentioned that the Prometric Test Centre has already contacted other stakeholders in Guam’s tourism sector and received a very positive and encouraging response. He noted that many stakeholders understand the importance of Guam continuing to diversify its visitor base and cultivate new niche markets.
“We are optimistic about the response from PHR Ken Micronesia Inc. and look forward to engaging additional stakeholders as the initiative develops,” Jung said. That includes engaging more hotels, airlines, restaurants, and other tourism partners. He said the Guam Visitors Bureau should also be involved.
Among the ideas being explored are:
*Special hotel packages for exam candidates that are competitively priced and more affordable than traditional tour agency packages;
*Discounted transportation options;
*Partnerships with restaurants and local businesses;
*Group travel packages through educational institutions and academies; and
*Prometric concierge services that serve as a one-stop resource for international candidates, providing assistance with exam scheduling, travel planning, accommodations, transportation, and local information.
What makes this initiative unique is that it is not dependent on seasonal tourism trends, Jung said, since exam candidates travel based on fixed testing schedules throughout the year, creating opportunities for more consistent visitor traffic.
One of the biggest opportunities available to Guam, Jung said, is boosting awareness about Guam’s unique entry programmes, including the Guam-CNMI visa waiver programme, which allows visitors from China to enter Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands visa-free for a limited time.
Under the programme, Korean and Japanese travelers are allowed to enter Guam without a visa and stay for 90 days.
Jung believes there is also an opportunity to work with Guam’s federal and local partners to reduce travel barriers for qualified exam candidates.
“One example would be for Prometric to provide official exam confirmation letters that candidates could present during U.S. visa interviews in countries that require visas,” he said. “Ultimately, the goal is to make Guam one of the easiest and most convenient U.S destinations for international professional candidates to visit.”
At its core, this initiative is about economic diversification, Jung said.
He said Guam has world-class hotels, modern testing infrastructure, direct international air access and the ability to create a unique niche market that few destinations can replicate.
“Instead of waiting for tourists to choose Guam for leisure alone, we can create new reasons for people to come here.”….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
Threats may change, but geography doesn’t. It’s time for Australia to be a good neighbour to the Pacific
By Joanne Wallis, Professor of International Security, Adelaide University and Jack Corbett, Professor, Politics and International Relations, Monash University
CANBERRA, 13 JULY 2026 (THE CONVERSATION)—In the past week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has signed security and defence agreements with Vanuatu and Fiji, visited Fiji and Solomon Islands, and hosted leaders from Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga in Brisbane.
Against this flurry of Pacific diplomacy, China tested a ballistic missile in the region, reminding all players of its presence and its growing power.
While the Albanese government has done much work in the Pacific and is generally on better terms with its leaders than the previous Morrison government, Australia can do more to be a good neighbour.
Strategic importance
British colonists in Australia “discovered” the strategic importance of the Pacific Islands in the early 1800s, worried about old European rivals France and Germany moving into the region. Australian governments rediscovered it during the two world wars.
Since the late 2010s, they have rediscovered it again as strategic competition between China and Australia’s ally, the United States, has intensified.
This pattern of long stretches of amnesia and neglect punctuated by spurts of anxiety and activity has a cost for Australia’s relationships in the Pacific. It also has a cost for Australia’s security. As historian Neville Meaney once argued, Australia’s approach to its foreign policy should be summarised as “the search for security in the Pacific”.
Our argument, developed in our new book, is that we can break this pattern. But this will require understanding the ideas that have guided Australian foreign and strategic policy for two centuries.
Australia’s federation was built on the legal fiction of terra nullius, dispossession, and the extraordinary wealth this brought. It created a small settler community that felt acutely vulnerable: all that wealth, but nobody nearby to protect it.
Australia looked north for protection, first from Britain, then from the U.S, and now, through the AUKUS security partnership, from both. It looked at its near neighbours in the Pacific with a mixture of suspicion and anxiety, despite being significantly larger and more materially powerful than them.
This historical dynamic has influenced how Australian policymakers have seen the Pacific. For decades, a fixation on island nations’ “smallness” and “weakness” led Canberra to treat the region as an irritating distraction from Australia’s “real” foreign policy objectives.
‘Family’ footing
In 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison switched gears when he characterised the Pacific as Australia’s “family”. This family ideal has been continued by the Albanese government.
Australia’s Pacific relationships have undoubtedly improved over the past decade, exemplified by its landmark security treaties with Tuvalu, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji, its Nakamal Agreement with Vanuatu, and its ongoing negotiations with Solomon Islands and Tonga.
But those improvements will always be limited if Australians don’t grapple with our complex history with the region and how it influences our ideas about the region and its people.
The history we tell reveals that seeing the Pacific as an “irritant” or as Australia’s “family” does not resolve a fundamental dilemma: the Pacific is too large and too diverse for a middle power like Australia to secure.
Pacific Island countries also often have differing interests from Australia. The result is that Australia is simultaneously unable to impose its will in the region and perceived as guilty of neo-colonial overreach when it tries to do so.
The China threat
This dilemma has existed for more than a century. It is now acute. For the first time since the second world war, Australia faces the prospect of an adversary with military superiority and vastly deeper pockets seeking greater influence in the Pacific. This is happening at precisely the moment its longtime ally, the US, appears to be in strategic retreat.
This dilemma cannot be resolved, but it can be better managed. The key lies in a middle-ground approach of “good neighbourliness”. Australia’s recent Pacific treaties suggest that this language is favoured by Pacific Island countries.
Falepili, the name of the 2023 treaty with Tuvalu, means “good neighbourliness, duty of care and mutual respect”. The 2025 statement of intent to sign a treaty with Tonga characterises the Australia-Tonga relationship as one of Kaume’a Ofi, “close friendship”.
Changing how Australia talks about the Pacific is not a diplomatic nicety. It opens the way for a genuinely different mode of Australian engagement in the Pacific that is informed by history, respects Pacific sovereignty, and creates opportunities for improvement. We argue that to be a good neighbour to the Pacific, Australia’s policy should be guided by four key principles: respecting boundaries, disagreeing well, fostering self-awareness, and prioritising cooperation over coercion.
Our history of Australia’s Pacific policy reveals instances when Australia has lived up to this standard of good neighbourliness. The Pacific Patrol Boat Program launched in the 1980s has assisted Pacific Island countries to secure their maritime boarders and revenues from their tuna fisheries in one example.
Likewise, in the 1980s and early 1990s, Australia stood with the region on issues such as climate change and nuclear nonproliferation. These moments did not resolve Australa’s underlying dilemma, but they demonstrated that a good neighbourly relationship is possible.
The challenge for Australian policymakers today is to not forget the Pacific when the current period of anxiety about China’s regional presence passes. Understanding Australia and the Pacific as neighbours reminds us that threats and challenges change. But geography doesn’t.
History tells us that good neighbourliness is the only approach capable of producing the durable regional relationships that Australia’s long-term security depends on…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Pacific emergency broadcasting: vital but critically underfunded
By Prashanth Pillay
CANBERRA, 13 JULY 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—The 2025–2026 cyclone season challenged Pacific communities and the communication systems they rely on in a crisis. Tropical Cyclone Urmil (February–March) brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of Vanuatu and Fiji, while April’s Cyclones Maila and Vaianu left communities in Solomon Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea assessing damage and relief needs. These events sit within a broader pattern of increasingly complex climate and disaster-related risks confronting Pacific states as we head towards the 2026–2027 cyclone season.
In disaster situations, access to timely and trusted information becomes critical. An emergency alert is only useful if it reaches people in time, in a language and format they understand and through channels they trust enough to act on. This is the distinctive and essential role of national broadcasters whose public service remit requires them to convey emergency information in ways that enable communities to receive, understand and act on official warnings.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) International Development’s qualitative research, conducted in 2026 with six Pacific national broadcasters in Fiji, PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, as well as with disaster-management representatives, points to a “recognition without resources” paradox. National broadcasters, especially radio services, are relied upon by authorities and the wider community to carry warnings and updates during emergencies. However, in most cases, broadcasters are not consistently and sufficiently supported by the formal disaster management systems and are unable to maintain or access the infrastructure they need to stay on air and reach communities during disasters. Gaps relate to integration into disaster communication frameworks, the establishment of priority power and telecommunications restoration arrangements and dedication of public funding for emergency broadcasting.
The implications are practical and immediate for Pacific communities. In PNG, respondents reported that only around one-third of the National Broadcasting Corporation’s transmitters are operational, limiting emergency radio reach for rural communities. Cyclone-damaged radio transmission sites in Vanuatu and Solomon Islands remain offline. The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation previously maintained a backup studio on higher ground away from tsunami and flood-prone areas. This has since been decommissioned, leaving the broadcaster dependent on its coastal headquarters, which faces greater risks during emergencies. The Fijian Broadcasting Corporation has a formal emergency broadcasting mandate and preparedness measures but still does not receive priority restoration of power or telecommunications from disaster management authorities, leaving continuity dependent on the wider pace of infrastructure recovery.
These examples suggest that strengthening emergency communication requires investment in systems that keep trusted information flowing during a crisis, even when power, telecommunications and transport networks are disrupted. This includes reliable transmission equipment, backup power, maintenance arrangements, trained staff with surge capacity and timely access to verified warnings.
The research also points to emergency communication as a layered system, where digital channels can strengthen speed and feedback, while broadcast channels can support reach and continuity. Digital platforms help agencies and broadcasters to share updates faster, livestream briefings, monitor reports from communities and support preparedness before hazards strike. Radio and other broadcast platforms extend the reach of verified information, particularly for rural, remote and less-connected communities, and provide a more robust pathway to audiences when power, mobile networks or internet access are disrupted. Maintaining multiple channels supports accessibility, including reaching marginalised groups that may lack digital access and people with disabilities for whom some channels can be inaccessible. Resilience depends on these different but connected channels working together.
For donors and governments, the research raises an important consideration for communication infrastructure investment — how can emergency information keep moving when systems are under pressure? A key priority is to build communication systems with enough overlap that information can continue to flow even when one channel is disrupted. This means looking beyond connectivity to continuity and reach, so warnings can reach communities in usable forms, for example in local languages, through trusted messengers and channels that remain available despite outages, damaged roads, staff shortages and fragmented information flows.
Findings show the importance of establishing funding and staffing arrangements before emergencies occur. Respondents noted the need to establish emergency communications funding within national disaster budgets, with funds that can be activated when a declared emergency occurs. These could cover airtime, fuel for generators, temporary connectivity, transport for staff, rapid repairs and translation or localisation of warnings. Standing service agreements between disaster agencies and national broadcasters could clarify support before, during and after emergencies, including how broadcasters can be given priority for power and telecommunications restoration.
A third priority raised in the research is workforce resilience. National broadcaster staff are also affected by disasters, often managing the same risks, disruptions and family responsibilities as the communities they serve. The research notes that small teams have remained on duty during disasters, sometimes under hazardous conditions, and that prolonged emergencies can lead to fatigue, stress and further risk. The broadcaster interviews point to the need for emergency broadcasting plans to include surge arrangements, safe transport, shift rotation, backup accommodation and psychosocial support. This recognises that small teams cannot be expected to sustain emergency coverage indefinitely, while also managing their own safety and the needs of their families and communities.
Finally, the findings reflect a strong case for pooled Pacific regional capacity. This is particularly relevant in a region where broadcasters face funding constraints, must cover wide and dispersed geographies and often respond to emergencies that affect more than one country at the same time. Broadcasters expressed interest in shared portable equipment, including radio-in-a-box kits, mobile transmitters, satellite connectivity and backup generators, as well as a media-led network of broadcast engineers and technical staff. Such arrangements could help restore temporary services when local systems are damaged and reduce reliance on improvised fixes. In Vanuatu, for example, one media executive described using a personal low Earth orbit satellite service to restore a studio-transmitter link during disruption. That kind of initiative is impressive and illustrates the dedication of staff within national broadcasters to emergency broadcasting, but it should not be the foundation of a national emergency communication system.
There is a policy window to act now. PNG is establishing a National Emergency Management Authority, Samoa is reviewing disaster management legislation, Fiji has proposed formal broadcaster-agency agreements and Vanuatu is negotiating similar arrangements. These reforms provide opportunities to formally position broadcasters as operational partners in disaster response, not simply outlets that receive messages after decisions have been made.
The six countries studied all share strong foundations. All have trusted national broadcasters that communities rely on during emergencies, growing use of digital platforms, committed staff and deep local knowledge. The challenge is to build on these strengths through emergency communication systems that are planned, resourced and able to withstand pressure. When the next crisis hits, communities will be best prepared to respond if timely, relevant information reaches them through channels they can access and voices they trust….PACNEWS
Dr Prashanth Pillay leads the research and evaluation function at ABC International Development, leading a portfolio of research projects across the Indo-Pacific. He previously worked as an academic specialising in Australian youth political communication.
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Vanuatu’s tourism sector advances plastic phase-out through strengthened national sustainability standards
PORT VILA, 13 JULY 2026 (SPREP)—- Vanuatu is accelerating efforts to reduce plastic pollution by embedding single-use plastic (SUP) phase-out measures into the future direction of its tourism industry.
The Vanuatu Sustainable Tourism Workshop, held this week in Luganville and Port Vila, brought together government agencies, provincial councils, communities, tourism businesses and industry associations to identify practical solutions to support a more sustainable and resilient tourism sector.
Held as part of consultations on the 2030 Vanuatu Sustainable Tourism Strategy Refresh and the revised Vanuatu Tourism Operator Sustainable Standards (VTOSS), the workshop highlighted the importance of regional collaboration and strategic alignment between national and regional frameworks and actions to address plastic pollution in the Pacific region.
The workshop was convened by the Vanuatu Department of Tourism (DOT) in partnership with the Department of Environmental Protection and Conservation (DEPC), the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Australian Government-funded Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP), and the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement Project (STEP) funded by the European Union’s SWITCH-Asia Programme.
Vanuatu has long been recognised as a regional leader in tackling plastic pollution. In 2018, it became one of the first countries in the world, and the first in the Pacific, to legally ban single-use plastic bags, straws, and polystyrene takeaway containers.
DEPC’s Principal Officer, Mr Rontexstar Mogeror said the workshops provided an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between the tourism and environment sectors.”Tourism is demonstrating it is part of the solution,” Mogeror said.
“The action being taken to enhance sustainability through the revised national tourism strategy and standards is a critical enabler in the pathway towards formally integrating a framework for phasing out problematic single-use plastics from our tourism value chain.”
Under the Pacific Ocean Litter Project, SPREP and SPTO have developed the Standards and Certification Programme to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics in the Pacific Tourism Industry (SCP) to help tourism operators progressively eliminate unnecessary and problematic single-use plastics.
The SCP provides practical guidance for tourism businesses to identify and phase out SUPs through improved procurement practices, sustainable substitutes and alternatives, and operational changes, ensuring responsiveness and supporting compliance with national legislation and regional and international commitments to address plastic pollution.
Vanuatu’s Director of Tourism, Paul Pio, welcomed the programme as an important regional initiative.
He said: “The Standards and Certification Programme provides a strategic regional framework for the tourism sector to eliminate plastics. Tourism is the cornerstone of the national economy and the programme presents a practical solution to consider as part of initiatives to enhance sustainability and compliance with national, regional and international obligations.”
Project Manager for POLP, Andrea Volentras said, “The tourism industry is a strategic sector to accelerate the transition away from single-use plastics because its influence extends across accommodation, food and beverage services, transport, attractions, retail and local supply chains.
“By supporting the tourism sector to phase out unnecessary single-use plastics, we create a ripple effect that drives more sustainable procurement, influences consumer behaviour, reduces plastic pollution across multiple industries.”
The workshops also introduced participants to the SCP implementation toolkit and resources, highlighting how the programme can support businesses in meeting the revised VTOSS requirements.
The implementation workshops are being delivered nationally by SPREP and SPTO in partnership with national focal points through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project.
Follow-on activities will support participating countries establish single-use plastic usage baselines, monitor progress, and measure the tourism sector’s contribution to reducing plastic pollution across the Pacific.
POLP supports Pacific Island countries to transition away from problematic single-use plastics through policy and legislative reform, behaviour change, private-sector engagement and practical solutions that reduce plastic pollution and protect the region’s fragile environment, communities and economies…..PACNEWS
