In this bulletin:
1. PNG — Papua New Guineans to start serving in Australian defence force
2. PALAU — PIF 2026: Palau prepares for a Pacific meeting shaped by regional divisions
3. VAN — Former Vanuatu President: Use pardon power for public safety
4. PACIFIC — Pacific reach out to NZ for information on bird flu
5. PALAU — Palau faces very dry months as strong El Niño strengthens
6. AUST — ‘Canberra’ hosts marines for amphibious training
7. PACNEWS BIZ — Visa slowdown for backpackers amid migration backlash
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Australia delivers firefighting vehicles to support Nauru Airport operations
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Government seeks $200m Fiji Airways guarantee
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Senator hits discriminatory tax policy against Guam military contractors
11. PACNEWS DIGEST — When the Pacific way is silence: Tuvalu, consensus and courage
12. PACNEWS DIGEST — When home was no longer home: Why people left these Pacific islands
PNG – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Papua New Guineans to start serving in Australian defence force
PORT MORESBY, 17 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)— Papua New Guineans will begin serving in Australia’s Defence Force (ADF) over the next year, with recruitment ramped up to “thousands” over the next decade.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles says the first project being implemented under the Pukpuk Treaty, the trans-Torres defence pact, is the enlistment of PNG nationals.
Speaking from Port Moresby alongside his PNG counterpart, Elias Kapavore, Marles said a pilot programme was being readied to accept nationals of Australia’s northern ally.
“We are both very committed to ensuring that by this time next year, recruitment is well and truly underway from PNG into the Australian Defence Force.
“It will be smaller numbers to begin with, but in time we see this happening at scale over the next decade, where we are imagining thousands of people,” he said.
Decisions around the recruitment process are to taken over the next two months ahead of an Australia-PNG ministerial forum, due in October.
In recent years, Australian defence ranks have been opened to New Zealanders, as well as citizens of Canada, the UK and U.S living in Australia.
The Pukpuk Treaty – which entered into force in July, and is named after the word for crocodile in the PNG language of Tok Pisin – is PNG’s first defence treaty, and gives Australia a third defence ally beyond the US and New Zealand.
It also includes an infrastructure spend, collaborative exercises, work to expand the interoperability of the two forces, and allowing forces to operate in each other’s countries.
“We are seeing our defence forces increasingly working more closely together … this is a huge moment,” Marles said.
Marles is on a two-day visit to Australia’s northern neighbours, visiting Honiara on Monday to meet with new Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale….PACNEWS
PALAU – DIPLOMACY: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
PIF 2026: Palau prepares for a Pacific meeting shaped by regional divisions
KOROR, 17 AUGUST 2026 (ISLAND TIMES)— Palau is preparing to host Pacific leaders later this month as the region faces a series of political, security and economic questions that could test the Pacific Islands Forum’s ability to maintain consensus.
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is scheduled for 30 August to 04 September in Palau under the theme “B.E.L.A.U. — Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.” The meeting will bring together leaders from across the Pacific as well as dialogue partners and other regional stakeholders.
The meeting comes after a recent gathering of Pacific foreign ministers in Fiji ended without agreement on a joint statement addressing China’s recent missile test in the Pacific.
Ministers from the 18-member Forum discussed the July missile launch but did not reach consensus on whether the Forum should issue a specific statement. The disagreement highlighted different views among member states over how the regional organisation should respond to strategic developments involving major powers.
The issue is expected to remain part of the wider regional conversation as leaders prepare to meet in Palau.
The Forum has repeatedly emphasised regional unity and consensus, even as Pacific governments maintain different diplomatic relationships and positions on security and international affairs. Recent meetings have focused on strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring that Pacific institutions remain responsive to changing political and economic conditions.
Taiwan’s participation is also expected to draw attention during this year’s meeting. Recent reporting indicates Taiwan will participate in the Palau Forum despite pressure from China. Taiwan has been a development partner of several Pacific countries, including Palau, but Beijing opposes its participation in international organisations where it could be represented as a separate state.
For Palau, hosting the meeting places the country at the centre of regional diplomacy for several days.
The Forum’s official programme describes the gathering as an opportunity for Pacific leaders to advance regional priorities and strengthen cooperation. Preparatory meetings between the Forum Secretariat and Palau’s National Planning Committee have focused on the country’s priorities under the B.E.L.A.U. theme and coordination for the leaders meeting.
The event will also bring international media attention to Palau. The Forum Secretariat has announced a media centre in Koror for accredited journalists, with a media workshop scheduled for 28- 29 August ahead of the leaders meeting.
The timing gives Palau an opportunity to present itself not only as the host country but also as an active participant in discussions about the Pacific’s future.
With regional governments facing questions involving climate change, economic development, security and geopolitical competition, the meeting is expected to place renewed attention on how Pacific countries can maintain a common regional voice while preserving their individual national interests.
For Palau, the coming weeks will be a test of organisation and diplomacy — and a chance for the country to put its own priorities at the centre of the regional agenda……PACNEWS
VAN – PARDON: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Former Vanuatu President: Use pardon power for public safety
PORT VILA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) —A former Head of State has urged Vanuatu President Nikenike Vurobaravu to use his constitutional power to pardon prisoners with caution, recalling that he once refused to pardon a list of about 46 inmates after being warned that some were dangerous.
The former President, who requested not to be identified, acknowledged that the Constitution gives the Head of State the power to grant pardons, but said that power must be exercised responsibly and only after careful consideration of who is being released and the circumstances surrounding each case.
“You have that power, but again that power you can exercise for the good of the people,” he said.
He said his own experience in office demonstrated the importance of carefully reviewing pardon recommendations before making a final decision.
The former President recalled being presented with a list of about 46 inmates recommended for pardon ahead of Chiefs Day. However, after his security personnel reviewed the list, they warned him that some of the people included were dangerous.
He decided not to approve the list immediately.
“I’m worried about the life of the public. It doesn’t matter if I have the right to pardon them, but I am concerned about the safety of people because there are some dangerous people inside that list,” he said.
The former President said he instead held the list and told those who had presented it that more work and consultation were needed before a decision could be made.
When the list was later raised during the Chiefs Day ceremony, he refused to declare the pardons.
“I told them this list I cannot declare today. There is some work in it. There is a lot of work we need to do with this list. Sorry, but I will not do anything today,” he recalled.
He said the decision was later supported by the Chief Justice at the time, who visited his office and thanked him for refusing to proceed with the pardons.
Reflecting on the current controversy surrounding President Vurobaravu’s recent pardons, the former President said the current Head of State should carefully consider the background of each person before exercising the pardon power.
“Yes, the President has the right, but again he has to think around the box. He must again know who is that person he is going to pardon,” he said.
He also urged presidential advisers to ensure the Head of State receives sound legal advice before making decisions involving pardons.
“When I heard this, I said the current President should think long and his advisers should have knowledge on law, to direct him,” he said.
The former President said that during his time in office, he chose not to use his constitutional power when he believed doing so could place the country at risk.
“I did not use that power to put the country in a dangerous point. Safety of the people is paramount,” he said.
The former President’s message is that the constitutional power may belong to the Head of State, but its exercise must ultimately be guided by the interests and safety of the people…..PACNEWS
PAC – BIRD FLU STRAIN: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Pacific reach out to NZ for information on bird flu
WELLINGTON, 17 AUGUST 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC)—Pacific governments have asked New Zealand for advice on handling the H5 avian influenza, or bird flu, according to the Ministry of Primary and Industries.
An adviser on seabirds in New Zealand said Pacific countries and territories should prepare for H5 bird flu.
The avian influenza has now been detected in both Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian government reports 205 confirmed events of H5 bird flu in wild birds. The risk to human health remains low.
In New Zealand, the native bird found to be infected with the deadly H5 bird flu in Wairarapa was actually the country’s first case of the virus, not the second, RNZ revealed.
The co-chairperson of the Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust, Karen Baird, has worked as a threatened migratory species adviser for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme – SPREP.
She said it’s difficult to predict when H5 bird flu will arrive in Pacific island countries.
“But obviously now it’s in Australia and New Zealand, the chances of it actually getting to the Pacific are much greater. Some of the seabirds that have brought the virus to New Zealand and Australia, do range up to into the Pacific to some extent.” “
Baird said the biggest threat for the Pacific is its wildlife, especially in islands where some species are endemic and already under pressure.
“Those small populations of endemic species that are highly threatened …if they got into those populations there is a potential for them to potentially wipe out some species which would be horrific.
So, yes, the potential impact for the Pacific is significant.”
The Ministry of Primary and Industries chief veterinary officer has confirmed information has been shared with six Pacific countries, following questions from RNZ Pacific.
Dr Mary van Andel said MPI, in coordination with MFAT and regional partners, has received requests for information and advice relating to preparedness, surveillance, testing arrangements, wildlife management, and outbreak response.
“New Zealand has proactively shared highly pathogenic avian influenza readiness information from its readiness activities with six Pacific partner countries as part of its broader support for animal health preparedness which is funded by MFAT.”
MPI said the information is being used to strengthen national planning and preparedness activities.
New Zealand has worked with regional organisations and partners to strengthen preparedness across the Pacific. This has included supporting regional training on HPAI in wildlife, developing and delivering simulation exercises in Fiji, and working with the Pacific Community (SPC) on wildlife-focused HPAI training and preparedness workshops in counties.
Pacific governments are actively monitoring the global and regional avian influenza situation, including developments in New Zealand and Australia, as part of their ongoing biosecurity and animal health preparedness activities.
Last month, the Cook Islands Ministry of Agriculture said it is taking a precautionary approach by increasing public awareness.
The ministry confirmed there are no cases of H5N1 avian influenza in the Cook Islands and stated that the “risk remains low” ……PACNEWS
PALAU – WEATHER WATCH: ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Palau faces very dry months as strong El Niño strengthens
KOROR, 17 AUGUST 2026 (ISLAND TIMES)—Palau is facing a high risk of unusually dry conditions beginning in September, with a strong El Niño expected to intensify and persist into early 2027, according to the latest Early Action Rainfall Watch.
The rainfall outlook gives Palau a very high chance of very dry conditions in September and during the September-November period, signaling a potentially significant decline in rainfall across the country.
Very dry conditions are defined as rainfall levels that would place a month among roughly the 20 driest out of 100 comparable months.
The outlook comes as El Niño becomes firmly established across the tropical Pacific. Both oceanic and atmospheric indicators are consistent with a strong El Niño, and climate models indicate continued warming in the tropical Pacific in the coming months, with conditions expected to peak toward the end of the year.
The event is expected to continue into early 2027, according to the rainfall watch.
Current atmospheric conditions also support the El Niño pattern, with trade winds weaker than normal or reversed across parts of the western tropical Pacific, increased cloudiness near the International Date Line and reduced cloudiness over the Maritime Continent.
The National Weather Service’s accompanying public information flyer describes the event as a “Strong to Very Strong El Niño” and urges communities to prepare for prolonged dry periods, heat extremes, water shortages, increased wildfire risks and stress on agriculture and fisheries. The flyer also warns of coral bleaching and possible food security concerns.
The rainfall outlook comes despite recent wet conditions in parts of Palau.
At the six-month timescale, most of Palau’s main islands recorded a very wet rainfall status, while the southwest islands were classified as very dry. At the three-month timescale, portions of western Babeldaob remained very wet, while the southwest islands continued to experience very dry conditions.
The southwest islands also recorded very dry conditions over the most recent one-month period.
The latest satellite imagery showed mostly clear skies over Yap and Palau and their coastal waters, with patchy clouds and showers farther south of the islands.
Weather officials emphasise that El Niño is only one of several factors affecting seasonal weather and climate, and that every El Niño event differs in strength and impacts.
Still, the expected persistence and strength of the current event make early preparation important.
The public information flyer encourages residents and sectors to prepare and contact relevant agencies for guidance, particularly as water resources could come under increasing pressure during prolonged dry periods.
Communities, farmers, fishers and other sectors are encouraged to monitor weather updates and conserve water as Palau heads into the drier months…PACNEWS
AUST – DEFENCE: AAP PACNEWS 2: Mon 17 Aug 2026
‘Canberra’ hosts marines for amphibious training
DARWIN, 17 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)—The decks of Australia’s largest warship have echoed to the tramp of U.S boots, with visiting troops performing amphibious drills between Townsville and Darwin.
HMAS Canberra took aboard more than 300 marines and their equipment in Queensland’s Far North and set them ashore in the Top End via landing craft.
Darwin hosts around 2000 US personnel for six months of the year during the dry season as part of a rotation now in its 15th year.
Both nations stress the importance of the arrangement to have troops work side-by-side to better co-ordinate joint missions, integrate forces and strengthen ties.
Completed on August 8, the latest integrated sea voyage gave many of the marines a first-time chance to work with Australians at sea and included preparations to disembark on aircraft from Canberra’s flight deck.
The ship also took on board two US Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft which, for the first time, practised taking off and landing on an Australian ship.
Surprisingly, many of the marines had never been aboard a warship before despite their origins as seagoing soldiers.
For Lieutenant-Colonel Daniel Katzman, combat logistics commander for the marine task force in Darwin, the amphibious training on Canberra was a once in a lifetime experience.
“For many of us it’s the first time on an amphibious ship, hopefully not the last as we try to turn back to our previous roots,” he says.
The Darwin marine rotation is hugely important given the situation in the Indo-Pacific and allows US and Australian troops the chance to build relationships and interoperability, Lt Col Katzman says.
“We really appreciate what we have with our Australian partners.”
The two nations have fought together on various battlegrounds for over 100 years, he notes.
“Our operations with Australia are truly special, our background is bonded in blood from the things we’ve done together and we continue to build on that every single day here.”
HMAS Canberra commanding officer Captain David McPherson says it was “a privilege and an honour” to host the marines and the ship’s company totally enjoyed the experience.
Working as an integrated force, with Australian personnel learning how to land and refuel the Ospreys and co-ordinate with the marines to send them ashore was invaluable.
“It’s the execution of the national defence strategy right here,” he says.
An important World War II link between the US and Australia was also commemorated on the sea voyage.
A service was held on the flight deck to mark the 84th anniversary of US marines landing on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942 to seize a key airfield from the Japanese.
Also remembered was the loss of 84 crew when Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra was attacked and sunk off Guadalcanal the following night.
The marine rotational force in Darwin is tasked to deploy for humanitarian assistance and disaster response in the region and for full-scale combat operations.
Lieutenant-Colonel Tom Scovel, operations officer with the rotation, says the Townsville exercise was a great opportunity for a land-based special purpose marine unit to practise getting on and off a ship.
“We don’t have US Navy ships with our force so the opportunity to do that with the Australian amphibious forces is tremendous for us.”
Lt Col Scovel says the marines in the rotation enjoy Darwin and the Northern Territory, with the national parks in the region second to none.
“The jumping croc tours are a fan favourite. Every marine that’s gone so far has just raved about it.
“Darwin is absolutely a military-friendly city … and we try to engage as much as we can with the local community.”
Lt Col Scovel says the most challenging part of the rotation is being away from friends and family for six months.
“I’m married and have two small children back home in California and I can’t wait to get home and see them.”
A sailor on HMAS Canberra, who cannot be named for official reasons, says he greatly values working alongside the marines for the first time.
“We’ve swapped stories about life back home and the experiences we’ve had as members of the Australian navy and the US Marine Corps, sharing stories and having a laugh.
“At the end of the day we’re from opposite sides of the planet but we are alike in far more ways than we are different.
“It’s great having them as great pals and knowing that, with the world as it is, they’ve got our back and we’ve got theirs.”
HMAS Canberra is a landing helicopter dock ship with one of the most capable air-land-sea amphibious deployment systems in the world.
The ship has a crew of about 400 and is able to land more than 1000 embarked troops along with their weapons, ammunition, vehicles and stores, using landing craft and helicopters.
Commissioned in 2014, it is the RAN’s flagship and the largest warship ever built in Australia at 230 metres long and weighing 27,800 tonnes……PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
AUST – BACKPAKER: AAP PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Visa slowdown for backpackers amid migration backlash
CANBERRA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (AAP)–The Australian processing of backpacker visas has been slowed down as Labor confronts a One Nation revival fuelled by rising anti-immigration sentiment.
Immigration Minister Tony Burke confirmed on Sunday that working holiday visas were still being processed, but they were being handled “more slowly than they were previously”.
He did not provide further information about the reason for the slowdown but pointed to a Pacific workers’ scheme as the primary visa for temporary staff when asked about the impact of fewer backpackers on farm labour.
“One of the things that happened when we started to improve worker protections on (the Pacific scheme) was … some of the worst operators said, “f we’ve got to have better standards for (those) workers, we’ll just switch to backpackers”.
“That’s not the way this system’s meant to work.”
Data from the Department of Home Affairs shows the number of working visa holders in Australia exceeded 210,000 in June 2025, outpacing pre-COVID figures by around 100,000.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan said the working holiday visa bringing people to the regions was not to blame for the broader impacts of high migration.
“It’s not backpackers taking away houses from people in Sydney and Melbourne or Brisbane,” he told reporters.
Instead, the junior coalition partner agreed to cap international student levels at 25 percent of the current intake at its national conference on Saturday.
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson also called for a cut to the nation’s student intake, which she said offered a “back door” into Australia.
The government is yet to announce how it will meet an annual net overseas migration forecast of 225,000 a year in the May budget.
The immigration minister was due to front the National Press Club earlier in August to outline changes to reduce migration levels, but he pulled out at the last minutes over policy concerns that erupted during a Labor caucus meeting.
Burke defended the delay and said the party was examining all the consequences of its yet-to-be-announced plan.
“If you want an example of what happens when you don’t do your policy work collegiately, I give you Senator Andrew Bragg as exhibit A,” he said.
Opposition housing spokesman Andrew Bragg raised eyebrows during the week when he suggested net overseas migration should be reduced to 180,000 per year.
He suggested the figure could be reached with “modest reductions” to international students, working holiday arrivals and post-study work visas.
The coalition is yet to reveal an annual migration target or policy for reducing the number, instead saying the intake should be tied to housing completions.
Labor has quietly made several changes to the migration system in recent weeks as polls point to widespread support for reduced immigration levels.
In a ministerial direction in late July, Mr Burke instructed his department to prioritise visa applications from migrants already in Australia ahead of people applying from overseas.
The move is expected to have the effect of lowering the closely-watched net overseas migration figure, which stood at about 300,000 in 2025, while making it harder for employers to access skilled labour from overseas….PACNEWS
NAURU – FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Australia delivers firefighting vehicles to support Nauru Airport operations
YAREN, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PACNEWS)—Australia has delivered two specialist aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles to Nauru to support the resumption of regular international flights and strengthen aviation safety.
The vehicles arrived in Nauru last week aboard Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster aircraft, with President David Adeang and Cabinet ministers witnessing their arrival on Thursday and Friday.
The new vehicles will help Nauru meet civil aviation safety standards and protocols required for passenger, freight and emergency services at the airport.
President Adeang said Nauru was extremely grateful to the Australian Government and people for the support.
He said Nauru’s geographical isolation made reliable air connectivity vital, noting the country’s vulnerability and dependence on links to the outside world.
“Connectivity to the outside world is therefore vital,” President Adeang said.
Minister for National Emergency Services Jesse Jeremiah and Australian High Commissioner Lisa White signed a Memorandum of Understanding formally handing over the firefighting assets to Nauru.
The MOU reflects Australia’s commitment to supporting Nauru’s specific needs and strengthening the country’s resilience and security.
The cooperation is being delivered under the Nauru-Australia Treaty, which supports Nauru’s security and resilience needs and helps ensure compliance with Australian civil aviation safety requirements….PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Fiji Government seeks $200m Fiji Airways guarantee
SUVA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji Government will seek Parliament’s approval today to guarantee an additional $200 million (US$100 million) in borrowings by Fiji Airways.
The proposed three-year guarantee is among the key motions listed for debate when Parliament sits from 9.30am today.
According to Parliament’s amended Order Paper, the Minister for Finance will seek approval for Government to guarantee Fiji Airways’ additional borrowings from 01 August2026, to 30 June 2029.
The motion also seeks to exempt Fiji Airways from paying a guarantee fee.
Government is further seeking approval for the guarantee to cover the specified borrowing facilities until they reach full maturity or are discharged.
The motion is being brought under section 145(1) of the Constitution and Standing Order 131…PACNEWS
GUAM – TAX POLICY: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 17 Aug 2026
Senator hits discriminatory tax policy against Guam military contractors
HAGATNA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Senator Shawn Gumataotao came to the defence of Guam’s military contractors, who are being taxed at a higher rate than other local businesses.
“Why should a Guam company doing construction work for our military be taxed at a higher rate than the same company doing the exact same work here for anyone else?” he asked.
While the business privilege tax is scheduled to roll back to 4 percent in October for most Guam businesses, the 5 percent rate continues to apply to defence contractors in the current fiscal year.
The proposed budget for fiscal 2027 retains the same BPT structure.
At Friday’s budget deliberation, Gumataotao failed to gain enough votes for his amendment to remove a provision that imposes a 5 percent BPT on military contracts from the governor’s Bill 1 (S-10).
“I opposed establishing a higher tax rate for military contractors a year ago and I oppose this latest attempt, in my opinion, to define this legislature as anti-military, anti-jobs and anti-family,” he said.
“I will not settle for repeated attempts to treat the important investments that are made in support of our nation’s war fighters as a gold rush.”
The National Defence Authorisation Act authorises an annual average of US$1.8 billion worth of defence projects for Guam.
As of 2025, the Department of Defence’s investment in Guam has reached US$3.9 billion, according to the U.S Government Accountability Office’s report.
Last year, the governor’s office announced that the Department of Defence’s expansion is projected to entail more than US$5 billion in new construction projects on Guam in the next three to five years.
The government of Guam, however, has not quantified the actual amount of revenues earned from military contracts.
In 2023, the Office of Public Accountability reported that several federal contractors undertaking millions of dollars worth of military projects on Guam are either not locally licensed to operate businesses or not filing their taxes, resulting in approximately US$22 million in tax leakages.
Gumataotao said he worked for a Fortune 100 company that “has done, and continues to do, a great deal of work” on Guam.
“They have followed every Guam law and paid every Guam tax, as did all of their local subcontractors,” Gumataotao said.
“I have also been part of a Guam small business that grew exponentially through work on our military installations—growth that meant taking on more responsibility, more risk and more direct contracts of our own, rather than staying content as someone else’s subcontractor for what seemed like forever,” he added.
Gumataotao said the governor’s BPT proposal tends to penalize successful local companies
“We should not be writing our tax code to punish the exact moment a local business reaches for something greater.
“If we are serious about the structural, long-term fiscal discipline this administration says it wants, we should not be building next year’s budget on a temporary construction boom that these very same officials will tell you, in the next breath, cannot be counted on to last,” he 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
When the Pacific way is silence: Tuvalu, consensus and courage
By Niuone Eliuta
FUNAFUTI, 17 AUGUST 2026 (DEVPOLICY.ORG)—A nuclear-capable Chinese ballistic missile, launched from a nuclear-powered submarine in July 2026, arced over several Pacific nations and landed without warning in waters close to Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone. Tuvalu’s government called the incident a “grave and serious concern”, and Pacific civil society groups urged leaders to reject militarisation. Yet at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) foreign ministers’ meeting in Suva, the region could not agree on a joint statement.
Is the Pacific Way still serving the Pacific, or has it become cover for silence?
The phrase was coined in the early 1970s by Fiji’s first prime minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, playing on “Pacific” the region and “pacific” the adjective, as discussed in Pacific Dialogues. It describes an Oceanian approach to problems: dialogue over diktat, family-style decision-making and time for reflection rather than rushed votes.
Critics have long warned that the same method has a dark side. Within the PIF, the drive for consensus has at times given each member a de facto veto, weakening collective unity. That is what played out in Suva.
Australia and others pushed for a joint statement condemning the missile test. Some members used the consensus requirement as a veto, prompting New Zealand’s Winston Peters to say, “We made it clear that wasn’t the Pacific way”. The outcome was no statement and no regional position on an incident that directly threatened one of the smallest members. PIF Secretary-General Baron Waqa declined to name positions, referring only to “differing views”.
Tuvalu was closest to the impact, with the missile landing near its EEZ and sparking fears of a tsunami. It was among the first to speak out, joining Palau and Vanuatu in condemning the test and calling for the Pacific never to become a testing ground. The state with the least power experienced the most risk, while the institution meant to protect its interests cannot agree on words.
The two states most often named as blocking consensus were Naoero and Kiribati. The PIF Secretary-General said they had not blocked the statement but had “honestly placed their position”. Either way, if the Pacific Way allows a member to veto a collective response to a missile landing near a neighbour’s EEZ, the principle of “family” becomes a shield for bilateral convenience. Naoero and Kiribati have every right to dissent. The question is whether a process that lets dissent override collective interest still serves the region’s most vulnerable members.
Pacific civil society did not wait for ministers. Regional groups condemned the test and urged leaders to reject actions leading to a military build-up. If civil society could find its voice, why not the Forum?
Three tensions stand out. First, process versus purpose: the Pacific Way is a method for collective action, not an end in itself. Second, respect versus abdication of responsibility: respecting sovereign choices, as recognised in the Agreement Establishing the Pacific Islands Forum, cannot mean leaving the smallest to face threats alone. Third, diplomacy versus urgency: when a nuclear-capable missile lands near a member’s EEZ, delay is neither appropriate nor neutral.
Several reforms would help. Distinguish “consensus to act” from “consensus to block”, allowing majority positions on security issues while noting objections, as suggested in regional governance analyses and in the Forum’s own documents. Give the most affected states, like Tuvalu, particular weight in shaping responses, as argued in reporting on the Suva debate. And reaffirm the Pacific as a nuclear-free zone, which status is incompatible with unannounced military activities.
In Tuvalu, families feared for their safety. Fishers wondered whether their waters were now a target. Young people asked why their country must be a chessboard.
After the meeting, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand accused New Zealand’s foreign minister of “seeking to rally an attack on China” and cast the absence of a Forum communiqué as a “slap in the face” to Wellington. That framing turns the debate into a contest between New Zealand and China. For Pacific countries that narrows and distorts the issue: the fact is that a nuclear-capable missile crossed the region and landed near Tuvalu, in a Blue Pacific leaders have described as an “Ocean of Peace”.
Beijing calls the launch a routine, lawful training activity, and allied media dismiss criticism as “megaphone diplomacy”. For communities in Tuvalu who feared a tsunami and saw a nuclear-capable system land near their EEZ, the concern is physical safety and the precedent. A Pacific-centred response does not require choosing between New Zealand and Australia, on the one hand, and China on the other. It requires insisting that any state operating in the region respects the Pacific’s commitment to remain nuclear-free and never again be treated as a convenient testing ground.
Tuvalu’s stance, seen in regional coverage and in statements from like-minded governments, shows what the Pacific Way looks like in practice. The question is whether the Forum will follow, or hide behind a consensus that protects only the comfortable….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
When home was no longer home: Why people left these Pacific islands
By Raquel Bagnol
HAGATNA, 17 AUGUST 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—Scattered across the Pacific Ocean are beautiful islands that were once home to thriving communities. In these islands, archaeologists have discovered the remains of stone houses, ancient tools, ceremonial sites and abandoned settlements.
These artifacts reveal once-thriving communities where families lived, children were raised and leaders ruled thousands of years ago. However, at some point, the people departed.
What happened? Why would settlers abandon islands they had called home for generations? Let’s take a quick trip to some of the Pacific’s vanished communities.
Henderson Island: When the lifeline disappeared
About 120 miles northeast of Pitcairn Island lies Henderson Island, uninhabited and one of the world’s most remote islands. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Henderson retains its stunning beaches and towering limestone cliffs. It is home to seabirds and unique plant species.
Henderson was home to a small Polynesian community centuries ago. Then they disappeared, leaving behind traces of their existence, including houses, stone tools, cooking wares and other remnants of daily life.
Dr Marshall I. Weisler, an Australian archaeology professor, offered theories about why people left Henderson.
In his article “Henderson Island Prehistory: Colonisation and Extinction on a Remote Polynesian Island,” Weisler said that Henderson Island once shared trade and travel networks with nearby Pitcairn Island and Mangareva. Canoes transported people, resources and information between the islands.
But Mangareva later experienced severe environmental problems, including large-scale deforestation. As resources became scarce, so did long-distance voyages. Without those important connections, Henderson became increasingly isolated.
If this theory is correct, the residents may have abandoned Henderson not because of problems on the island itself, but because the other islands miles away were struggling.
Pitcairn Island: The forgotten Polynesians
Pitcairn Island is known for the mutiny of the HMS Bounty. In 1789, crew members led by Fletcher Christian rebelled against Captain William Bligh and eventually settled on Pitcairn Island.
But long before the mutineers arrived, Pitcairn already had native inhabitants. Archaeologists have discovered evidence of villages, farming, stone tools and trade networks dating back centuries. Then the settlers vanished. Some experts believe early settlers abandoned the island due to the collapse of the regional trade routes.
In 1852, Pitcairn’s population grew to 200 and the island’s resources could no longer support their needs. The British government relocated the settlers to Norfolk Island. Some of them returned to Pitcairn. As of 2023, Pitcairn Island had an estimated population of between 35 and 50.
The Phoenix Islands: Why people kept coming back
Another fascinating story lies among the Phoenix Islands of Kiribati.
Evidence suggests that people settled on some of these islands, abandoned them and then resettled several times throughout history.
There was no mystery about why people left or why they kept coming back.
In the 1930s, Britain and the United States used the islands as a refueling stopover for their planes. Some of the islands were also used for military activity during World War II.
The British government moved some families to the islands, hoping to create farming communities. However, the Phoenix Islands presented challenges for the residents, such as scarcity of fresh water, difficulty growing food and surviving droughts that could last for years. People often relied on supplies arriving by ship.
As airplanes became capable of flying longer distances, the islands were no longer needed as refueling stations. Jobs and supplies disappeared. Eventually, it became too difficult for people to stay.
Today, most of the Phoenix Islands are uninhabited, except for a village on Kanton Island, which has fewer than 50 residents.
Nan Madol: The Pacific’s lost city
Nan Madol in Pohnpei is one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in the Pacific region. Often called the “Venice of the Pacific,” Nan Madol consists of nearly one hundred artificial islets connected by canals.
For centuries, Nan Madol served as the political and religious centre of the powerful Saudeleur Dynasty until a change in leadership in 1628.
The city lost its political importance, people moved away and by the 18th century, it was largely abandoned….PACNEWS
Raquel Bagnol is a longtime journalist. She worked as a reporter for Marianas Variety on Saipan and Island Times in Palau.
