In this bulletin:
1. PNG — PNG leader says no foreign bases as Australia’s defence presence grows
2. AUST/SOL — Albanese launches bid for ambitious Solomon Islands treaty to counter China
3. AUST/SOL — Police ties in focus as Solomons leader Wale arrives in Australia
4. FIJI — Israel’s Embassy to be opened in Fiji this week
5. SAMOA — Talks on Polynesian priorities in Samoa: NZ foreign Minister
6. FIJI — Fiji Parliament to decide fate of constitutional and electoral changes: PM Rabuka
7. SOL — Gabriel Suri sworn in as Solomon Islands Attorney-General
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific Customs leaders unite to strengthen border security, trade and economic growth
9. PACNEWS BIZ — PNG elected Chairman of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office Council
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Airways faces route competition
11. PACNEWS BIZ — First PNG-China business forum set for October
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — From Village Shores to Regional Frontlines: How a young woman from Salesatele village found her calling protecting the Pacific’s fisheries
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — Community leaders tackle soaring energy prices with new solar PV systems
PNG – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
PNG leader says no foreign bases as Australia’s defence presence grows
PORT MORESBY, 02 JUNE 2026 (AFP) — Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape told AFP the South Pacific Island nation won’t allow foreign military bases, even as Australia steps up its presence at a naval port seen as central to blocking China in any regional conflict.
PNG’s remote Lombrum navy base sits 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) south of the U.S territory of Guam, on the other side of a stretch of sea analysts said is the fastest direct route out of the South China Sea to the South Pacific.
Australia’s military redeveloped the base for PNG at a cost of AUD$500 million (US$358 million) last year, gazumping a 2018 Chinese offer to rebuild the port as Beijing expanded military training with the former Australian territory.
Tender documents show that Australia’s Department of Defence is now seeking long-term “living services” for an “Australian compound” within the Lombrum base from August.
That would mean increased visits by Australian forces and vessels, but Marape said Lombrum was not a foreign base — a sensitive issue for a country building trade ties with China and security cooperation with Washington and Canberra.
“Our policy is very clear. These are sovereign Papua New Guinea defence facilities,” Marape told AFP in a statement.
“We work with trusted partners under treaty arrangements and defence cooperation agreements, but ownership and sovereignty remain with Papua New Guinea.”
Lombrum’s Australian compound was built to accomodate workers during base construction, Marape said, adding that it is also used by “visiting personnel if required”.
“It does not in any way constitute a foreign military base,’ he said.
An Australian defence spokeswoman said the redeveloped Lombrum base “will create further opportunities for joint training, exercises and ship visits between the Australian Defence Force and the PNGDF”.
“This would naturally involve Australian presence at the base from time to time,” she said.
PNG bases in the capital Port Moresby and in Lae and Wewak on the north coast will also be used “temporarily” by the U.S military in July for joint training exercises under a 2023 defence agreement, a U.S Army spokeswoman said.
Australia signed a mutual defence treaty with its northern neighbour last year, ratified by the PNG parliament in April.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government will spend AUD$600 million (US$429 million) to expand defence infrastructure across the Pacific Islands, including AUD$114 million (US$81 million) to build “dual use” infrastructure in PNG to support integration of the two defence forces, Australia’s national budget papers show.
The Lombrum base on Manus Island was established by the US military during World War II as its springboard to Asia — a response to Japan’s “fortress in the South Pacific” at nearby Rabaul in PNG, said Peter Dean, professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University.
Eight decades later, China and U.S allies are vying for Pacific Island ports.
“The geography has not changed,’ said Dean, who was the co-author of a 2023 review of Australia’s defence force that led to a new focus on denying China access to its northern approaches in any potential regional conflict.
He described PNG as ‘key” terrain to block China’s navy.
The Chinese navy frequently sails to the South Pacific and held a live-fire exercise in the sea between Australia and New Zealand last year.
Besides its redevelopment of the navy base, Canberra will also fund another five port upgrades.
Marape signed a funding deal with France and the European Union last week to redevelop Rabaul as a major trade port.
And last Tuesday, the Quad nations Australia, the United States, India and Japan said they would fund a commercial port for another South Pacific country, Fiji, which earlier sought funds from China.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat told his parliament last month that the Pacific island country would also sign a treaty with Australia that denies access by an outside military to its territory.
China’s key Pacific security pact is with PNG’s neighbour, Solomon Islands. Newly elected Prime Minister Matthew Wale is in Australia for security talks this week.
Dean said Canberra’s treaty with PNG “gains Australia access, the ability to co-develop those facilities, to help train the Papua New Guinea defence force, and it denies the Chinese the ability to do the same thing”.
“The most important thing you can do is gain access and trust now, and deny it to the other side,” he said…. PACNEWS
AUST/SOL – DIPLOMACY: SMH PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Albanese launches bid for ambitious Solomon Islands treaty to counter China
CANBERRA, 02 JUNE 206 (SMH) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will seek to capitalise on the election of a new Australia-friendly Solomon Islands leader by launching talks on a new treaty agreement and reviving a stalled policing deal aimed at curtailing China’s influence in the strategically crucial nation.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has arrived in Canberra for high stakes talks with Albanese, with China’s growing Pacific influence set to dominate discussions, his first overseas trip since he was elected by the Solomons’ parliament last month.
Prime Minister Wale and his delegation received a red-carpet welcome in Canberra on Monday.
Australian officials were delighted by Wale’s victory because of his track record as a champion of close ties with Australia and a critic of deepening security ties between the Solomons and China.
Sources familiar with the planning for the visit said Albanese and Wale planned to announce an elevation of the Australia-Solomons relationship, including starting negotiations on a new “comprehensive treaty” agreement between the two nations.
Australia and the Solomons have had a bilateral security agreement in place since 2017, but officials believe there is scope for a more ambitious and significant pact following Wale’s election.
Albanese and Wale are also expected to sign a memorandum of understanding to implement a $190 million (US$136 million) Australian funding package to expand and train the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
The deal, which also included funding for a new police training centre in the capital Honiara, was struck in December 2024, but little progress has been made on implementation in the following 18 months.
A new treaty with the Solomons would add to agreements the Albanese government has struck with Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea to cement Australia as the security partner of choice in the Pacific.
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The government is also working to finalise a new security agreement with Fiji and a treaty with Vanuatu known as the Nakamal Agreement.
James Batley, a former Australian high commissioner to the Solomon Islands, said it was a “positive sign” that Wale was visiting Australia so soon after being elected.
“He’s a man in a hurry,” Batley said.
“The Australian government will be looking for openings to create a deeper strategic relationship and reassurance that the Solomons will not deepen security ties with China.”
During the 2024 elections, Wale accused his political opponents of “sleazing up to Beijing, trying to kiss their feet” and vowed to release the details of a secretive 2022 security pact his predecessor, Manasseh Sogavare, signed with China.
Lowy Institute research fellow Connor Graham said resurrecting the stalled 2024 policing agreement would be welcomed as a sign that “the Solomons is moving in Australia’s direction”.
Albanese said in a statement: “Prime Minister Wale’s decision to make Australia his first official international visit emphasises the importance of the relationship between our nations.
“Despite the global challenges we confront, we recognise we are stronger facing these together as partners,” he said…. PACNEWS
AUST/SOL – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Police ties in focus as Solomons leader Wale arrives in Australia
CANBERRA, 02 JUNE 2026 (AFP) — Australia will urge the Solomon Islands, China’s closest partner in the South Pacific, to boost police ties during Prime Minister Matthew Wale’s first visit to Canberra.
Elected leader last month and pledging change, Wale arrived in the Australian capital on Monday for talks with officials on security, education and development ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday.
Australia was rattled when the Solomons signed a secret security pact with Beijing in 2022 that opened the door to a Chinese police presence in the region.
Australia is the Solomons largest aid donor and two years ago offered AUD$190 million (US$136 million) in police funding to double the size of the Solomon Islands police force by training more local recruits — a bid to reduce the influence of Chinese police.
The offer was stalled by the previous Solomons government, which instead gave a green light for Beijing to export its “Fengqiao” population management system outside China for the first time.
Chinese police in September organised the collection of fingerprints, palm prints and household records in the Honiara village of Fighter One, introducing children to overhead drones through ball games, as they pledged to roll out the digital surveillance system nationally.
In public statements, Solomons police said Fengqiao was created 60 years ago in China, a reference to its roots as a Mao-era social control model.
Among the critics were members of Wale’s new government, including Peter Kenilorea, one of the ministers arriving in Canberra for talks.
Clifton Aumae, deputy director of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Traditional Governance, Peace & Ecclesiastical Affairs, told AFP on Monday the Fengqiao trial appears to have been “shelved for an indefinite period”.
“Many communities continue to place considerable value on traditional leadership and the role of traditional leaders in maintaining social order and resolving disputes,” he said.
“Any externally introduced model would need to complement, rather than bypass, these existing structures,” he added.
The Solomons Police Minister John Tuhaika, also in Canberra, was previously minister for traditional governance.
Director of Research at the Lowy Institute think tank, Mihai Sora, said Australia’s police funding offer was likely to progress under the new government.
Wale has said he wants to offer free education and reform the mining sector, which is dominated by foreign companies. Education and infrastructure ministers have also travelled to Canberra.
Lowy Institute research fellow Connor Graham said Australia needs to be careful not to be seen by the Solomons as focused solely on “keeping China out”.
China is the largest external creditor to the Solomons, with debt to Chinese banks for infrastructure projects doubling last year to S$298 million (US$37 million) …. PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: FIJI GOVT PACNEWS 1: Mon 01 Jun 2026
Israel’s Embassy to be opened in Fiji this week
SUVA, 02 JUNE 2026 (FIJI GOVT) –– Israel’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Gideon Sa’ar, will visit Fiji from 02–03 June 2026 for the official opening of the State of Israel’s Embassy in Suva.
It marks a significant milestone in Fiji-Israel relations, further strengthening diplomatic, strategic and development cooperation while reaffirming Israel’s engagement across the Blue Pacific region.
During his visit, Sa’ar will meet with the President of Fiji, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and hold high-level meetings with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Sakiusa Ditoka, as well as other senior Government officials to discuss opportunities for enhanced cooperation and mutual development.
The re-establishment of Israel’s resident Diplomatic Mission in Suva follows Fiji’s historic opening of its Embassy in Jerusalem, in the State of Israel, in September last year. The reciprocal establishment of Israel’s Embassy reflects the deepening partnership and shared commitment to deeper bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of both nations.
As part of the visit, Fiji and Israel will formalise a number of bilateral cooperation arrangements that will further strengthen the growing partnership between the two countries and provide a platform for enhanced collaboration across a range of areas of mutual interest and shared priority.
The visit underscores the enduring friendship between Fiji and Israel and a shared vision for stronger partnerships that contribute to regional stability, resilience and sustainable development…. PACNEWS
SAMOA – DIPLOMACY: MFAT PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Talks on Polynesian priorities in Samoa: NZ foreign Minister
APIA, 02 JUNE 2026 (MFAT) — New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters held talks with a range of Polynesian leaders in Samoa over the long weekend.
“It’s been an honour to attend Samoa’s Independence Day commemorations today, and hold talks while in Apia with the leaders of Samoa, Tonga and Tokelau,” Peters said.
“While today has been one of celebration for Samoa, it’s also clear the conflict in the Middle East, and consequent fuel supply and cost issues, are having a big impact on our region.
“We discussed New Zealand’s support for the Pacific Islands region as it deals with the fuel crisis, and our coordination with partners such as Australia, the United States, the World Bank and the ADB on this matter,” Peters said.
“We’ve reiterated that New Zealand stands with our Polynesian partners at this challenging time.”
While in Apia, Peters held bilateral meetings in Apia with Samoan Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa, Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua and Ulu of Tokelau Faipule Alapati Tavite.
As is traditional when visiting Samoa, Peters also called on the Leader of the Opposition Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi.
As well as cost of living, the future of Moana Pasifika was a topic of discussion during Peters’ visit to Samoa.
“Rugby is a huge part of New Zealand and Polynesian culture – and Moana Pasifika’s future is important to the governments and people of Samoa and Tonga, as well as to New Zealand’s Pacific communities and rugby fans,” Peters said.
“It would be a seriously regrettable if Moana Pasifika were unable to take part in future Super Rugby seasons and we want to make sure every option is explored to try to find a sound business proposition and sustainable economic footing for the team.
“We indicated to Prime Ministers La’aulialemalietoa and Lord Fakafanua that New Zealand shares Samoa and Tonga’s aspiration that Moana Pasifika can continue to play in future seasons.
“Accordingly, we have instructed our officials to engage with NZ Rugby and other stakeholders with urgency to explore all possible options for a financially sustainable future for Moana Pasifika.”
Peters returns to New Zealand on Monday…. PACNEWS
FIJI – POLITICS: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Fiji Parliament to decide fate of constitutional and electoral changes: PM Rabuka
SUVA, 02 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — The release of the official campaign period dates has placed renewed pressure on Government to complete any proposed constitutional and electoral changes before Fiji returns to the polls.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told the Fiji Times that Government was still working through the issue but acknowledged that the Electoral Commission had acted according to the timeline set out under the Constitution.
He made the comments while responding to claims that Government was disappointed with the Electoral Commission for releasing the campaign period dates.
“They are independent but perhaps they should have asked for our opinion,” Rabuka said.
“However, the commission is working straight from the timeline as guided by the Constitution.”
He indicated that the release of the dates had now placed Government within a tighter timeframe, as any proposed constitutional changes would also have to be matched by changes to the electoral laws.
Rabuka said changing the Constitution alone would not be enough if the electoral laws remained unchanged before the next general election.
“If we change the Constitution but cannot change the electoral law, then we will have to go to the elections with the old constitutional electoral provisions.”
This means that unless both the Constitution and electoral laws are amended before the election, the country may still go to the polls under the current electoral framework.
Rabuka said Parliament would ultimately decide the way forward.
“We can put a motion to Parliament to help us work towards that and also the budget.
“The next budget would begin in August this year, while the election would fall within that, either under a six-month budget or a full year.”
He also referred to the early February timeline next year, saying the election could be held before “the 2nd or 4th of February”.
Rabuka, however, assured the Government is now working against the election clock, with the official campaign period dates already released and the current constitutional timeline now guiding the country towards the next general election…. PACNEWS
SOL – AG: SIBC PACNEWS 1: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Gabriel Suri sworn in as Solomon Islands Attorney-General
HONIARA, 02 JUNE 2026 (SIBC) — Prominent legal expert and seasoned practitioner Gabriel Suri has been officially sworn in as the Attorney General of the Solomon Islands.
This ceremony marks a critical legal transition for the newly established Government for Reform, Empowerment, Accountability & Transformation (GREAT) led by Prime Minister Matthew Cooper Wale.
As the principal legal advisor to the Crown and the Cabinet, Attorney General Suri will oversee the legal frameworks governing the state, ensuring that executive actions align strictly with the Constitution.
The appointment aligns with Prime Minister Wale’s promise of deep governance overhauls, particularly in highly scrutinised areas such as the mining and forestry sectors, anti-corruption initiatives, and legislative amendments.
“The Office of the Attorney General remains foundational to the integrity of our democracy. Ensuring clear, accountable, and transparent legal frameworks will be paramount as the government pushes forward with its national development priorities,” the OPMC said.
The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC) also extended its congratulations to Gabriel Suri on his appointment and expresses full confidence in his ability to safeguard the rule of law and advance judicial integrity across the Solomon Islands…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – CUSTOMS: OCO SECRETARIAT PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Pacific Customs leaders unite to strengthen border security, trade and economic growth
NADI, 02 JUNE 2026 (OCO SECRETARIAT) — Customs leaders from 24 Pacific administrations will convene in Fiji from 02–04 June 2026 for the 28th Annual Conference of the Oceania Customs Organisation (OCO), reaffirming their collective commitment to protecting Pacific communities, securing borders, facilitating trade, and supporting sustainable economic growth across the Blue Pacific.
Hosted by Fiji under its Chairmanship of the OCO, the conference will bring together Heads of Customs, senior government officials, development partners, and international organisations under the theme: “Scaling Up the Commitment of Customs to Protect and Grow our Pasifika Communities.”
At a time when the Pacific faces increasing pressures from transnational organised crime, evolving trade patterns, and growing demands on border agencies, the conference will focus on strengthening regional cooperation and building the capabilities needed to meet these challenges.
Recent large-scale narcotics seizures across the Pacific have highlighted the growing interest of organised criminal networks in exploiting regional maritime and aviation routes.
Human trafficking, illicit financial flows, customs fraud, environmental crimes, and the smuggling of prohibited goods continue to present significant risks to the social and economic wellbeing of Pacific nations.
OCO Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS), Udit Singh, said Customs administrations play a critical role in protecting communities while enabling economic development.
“Customs today is far more than a border agency. We are guardians of our communities, facilitators of trade, protectors of government revenue, and partners in economic growth.
The work of Customs directly impacts the prosperity, safety, and resilience of our Pacific nations.”
Singh said that while Pacific nations may be geographically dispersed, they face many common challenges that require collective action.
“The scale and complexity of modern border threats mean that no country can address these issues alone. Regional cooperation is essential. When one Pacific border is strengthened, the entire region becomes safer and more secure.’
He added that the Pacific occupies an increasingly important position within global trade and transport networks, making effective Customs administrations critical to both regional and international security.
‘The Pacific sits at the crossroads of major maritime and aviation routes connecting Asia, Australasia, and the Americas. Strong Customs administrations help protect these trade corridors while ensuring legitimate goods, travellers, and investment continue to move efficiently across our region.”
The conference will feature contributions from international partners including the World Customs Organisation, United Nations, World Bank, and other regional stakeholders.
Discussions will focus on border security, maritime enforcement, trade facilitation, passenger processing, digital transformation, leadership development, and strengthening intelligence-sharing arrangements across the Pacific.
During Fiji’s tenure as Chair of the OCO, the organisation has prioritised regional capacity building, leadership development, modernisation of customs systems, and stronger partnerships with international agencies. These initiatives have helped strengthen Customs administrations across the Pacific and enhance their ability to respond to emerging threats and opportunities.
This year’s conference also marks more than a decade since Fiji last hosted the OCO Annual Conference, underscoring Fiji’s continued commitment to regional leadership and collaboration.
Singh said the conference represents an important opportunity for Pacific Customs leaders to shape the future of border management in the region.
“As trade volumes grow, passenger movements increase, and criminal networks become more sophisticated, Customs administrations must continue to evolve. This conference reflects our shared commitment to ensuring our borders remain secure, efficient, and resilient for future generations, said Singh.
The members of the Oceania Customs Organisation include American Samoa, Australia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna…. PACNEWS
PAC – AVIATION MEET: PASO PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 02 Jun 2026
PNG elected Chairman of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office Council
HONIARA, 02 JUNE 2026 (PASO) — The Council of Directors of the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) has elected a new Chair following elections held during the 22nd Annual General Meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The Council elected Papua New Guinea, represented by Director of Civil Aviation/CEO of CASA-PNG, Benedict Oraka as Chair of the PASO Council for the next 12 months.
The Council also reaffirmed its confidence in the existing Deputy Chairs, with representatives from Tonga, Dr Vinolia K Salesi and the Cook Islands, John Hosking re-elected to continue supporting the governance and strategic direction of the organisation.
Oraka, has served on the PASO Council since 2021 and brings extensive leadership and regulatory experience to the role at a time of growing regional cooperation and development within the Pacific aviation sector.
The Council paid tribute to outgoing Chair Fui Mau Simanu of Samoa, who concluded four years of service in leading the organisation. Under his leadership, PASO strengthened regional aviation safety oversight, strengthened engagement with member states and development partners, and advanced important organisational reforms aimed at building sustainable and effective oversight systems.
Fui took over the chairmanship from Magele Hoe Viali also from Samoa (2020-2022) and who guided PASO through the Covid – 19 pandemic and its aviation challenges. Accepting the appointment, Oraka thanked Council members for their confidence and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing PASO’s mission and strengthening collaboration across PASO member states.
“Pacific aviation relies on strong State collaboration to address shared challenges and opportunities. PASO plays a vital role in supporting our member states, and I look forward to working closely with Council members, development partners and the PASO Secretariat to further strengthen aviation safety oversight across our member states and our region,” the new Chair said.
Papua New Guinea’s return to the Chairmanship follows the distinguished tenure of Sir Wilson Sagati OBE, who led the PASO Council for 13 years until 2020 and remains the organisation’s longest-serving Chairman.
The election outcome demonstrates the continued commitment of member States to regional cooperation and collective action in pursuit of PASO’s vision: Safer Skies, Connected Lives – Our Pacific Vision…. PACNEWS
FIJI – AIRLINE: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 02 Jun 2026
Fiji Airways faces route competition
NADI, 02 JUNE 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Fiji Airways’ control of 70 percent of the Korean market through its established gateways could be in jeopardy following Government’s plan to restore Korean Air’s direct services to Fiji.
Direct flights between Nadi International Airport and Seoul’s Incheon International Airport came to an end in 2019 after the airline cited a constant deficit of the route caused by a steady decline in passenger demand.
However, in Parliament last week, Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka revealed plans to restore services by Korean Air, causing concerns from the national airline.
Fiji Airways CEO and managing director Paul Scurrah said the national airline was already serving the Korean market through Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore into Fiji and seamless connections through its airline partners.
“Should Korean Air restore direct services to Nadi, Fiji Airways anticipates increased competitive pressure on its Asian routes, including those serving other regional destinations,” said Scurrah.
“Fiji Airways remains confident in the strength of its network and the quality of its partnerships and will continue to offer Korean travellers convenient and competitive connectivity into Fiji.”
He said the airline acknowledged that any restoration of direct Korean Air services to Nadi would introduce additional competition into the market.
“The airline will continue to honour and operate within all existing bilateral and codeshare frameworks, while actively monitoring market conditions to ensure its commercial interests and those of its passengers are appropriately protected.
“Fiji Airways remains committed to providing seamless international connectivity for travellers to and from Fiji.”
The Fiji Airways CEO added the national airline also provided multiple viable options to the lucrative European market.
“In addition, Fiji Airways continues to offer UK and European travellers a range of convenient routing options to Fiji whether via its Asian gateways through partners such as Cathay Pacific and Finnair, through Vancouver (YVR) in partnership with British Airways and WestJet or via the United States through Los Angeles and San Francisco.
“These multiple pathway options ensure that long-haul travellers from the UK and Europe are well served regardless of changes in the competitive landscape.”
In Parliament, Gavoka said Fiji used to welcome around 50,000 visitors annually from Europe largely due to Korean Air’s routes linking London, Seoul and Nadi.
He said during a meeting with the president of Korean Air, he was informed the airline lost $5million annually on the Fiji segment of the route…. PACNEWS
PNG – BUSINESS: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Tue 02 Jun 2026
First PNG-China business forum set for October
PORT MORESBY, 02 JUNE 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The first forum between the business communities of Papua New Guinea and China in October is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants, according to International Trade and Investment Minister Richard Maru.
“It will be a government-to-government arrangement if we are going to launch out into China in the biggest way ever,” he said.
“Recently, we signed bilateral security agreements, defence cooperation agreements with Australia and the US.
“And they are our partners in defence and security.
“(But when it comes to) economic prosperity, China is going to be our number one priority this year.
“We are going to go all out.
“They (Chinese companies) want to buy every fish we produce, every coffee we produce every gas we produce.
“Future gas projects will be sold to China. So, the first big move is to see China as our main trading partner, and we want to sign a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with China as soon as possible.
“I know it took Australia 15 years of negotiation and New Zealand 15 years.
“We must do it maturely, that we need an agreement.”
Maru added that the International Trade and Investment Department would ensure that the State Solicitor clears the agreement for the new 300-metric-tonne canning plant by next week, working through any required approvals so the project can proceed without further delay.
He said that Treasury would provide the Government’s 50 percent equity contribution (about K18 million) for the new canning plant within the next two weeks so that the state agreement could be signed and the project to move forward…. 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
From Village Shores to Regional Frontlines: How a young woman from Salesatele village found her calling protecting the Pacific’s fisheries
HONIARA, 02 JUNE 2026 (FFA) — When Stella Sahara Tuuau was growing up in Salesatele village far from Samoa’s capital Apia, the ocean was never far from daily life.
Fish on the family table, income for households, and the rhythm of village life all depended on the sea. Long before she understood terms like fisheries management or illegal fishing, Stella understood one simple truth: the ocean sustained her community.
Today, she is helping protect that same resource as a Senior Fisheries Officer with Samoa’s Fisheries Division, representing her country in Operation Tui Moana 2026 (OPTM26) – one of the Pacific’s largest coordinated fisheries surveillance operations.
“I always dreamed of wanting to work for Fisheries,” Stella says.
The opportunity came unexpectedly while she was still studying at the National University of Samoa. Looking for employment, she applied through a government recruitment circular and was called for an interview with the Fisheries Division.
“Fisheries was the first to give me a call. Luckily, I got the job,” she recalls with a smile. “At first, I was observing and learning. Then after a few months, I became more interested and wanted to do the best that I could.”
That interest eventually grew into a career dedicated to protecting one of the Pacific’s most valuable resources.
For Stella, fisheries is not simply a government department or an industry. It is deeply personal.
“Fisheries in Samoa is like the lifeblood of many villages,” she explains. “Many of our families rely on fish resources not only to earn money but also for food security and their livelihoods. Our people depend on the resources in our ocean.”
That connection made representing Samoa during Operation Tui Moana 2026 (OPTM26) especially meaningful.
“I felt so thrilled to be part of the operation and represent the Samoa flag through Fisheries,” she says. “It was an amazing opportunity to observe, learn and see for myself how these regional operations work.”
Assigned to the intelligence team, Stella spent long days analysing vessel activity and examining data from vast stretches of ocean. The work was challenging, particularly when monitoring large exclusive economic zones and areas where hundreds of fishing vessels operate.
Yet it was also one of the highlights of the operation.
“The most memorable part for me was conducting analysis and using the different systems introduced during the training,” she says. “Looking at the information, identifying patterns and understanding what was happening in the area of operation was something I really enjoyed.”
One moment stands out above all others.
Every morning, participants gathered to brief colleagues on their findings and report any suspicious activity they had identified.
“When it was our turn to present, it felt like we were experts,” Stella says, smiling. “Everyone had a role to play and contributed to the operation.”
But beyond the technical skills, what left the greatest impression was the spirit of regional cooperation.
Participants from across the Pacific worked side by side, sharing knowledge, supporting one another and building friendships.
For Stella, those relationships reinforced an important message: Pacific countries are stronger when they work together.
“It gives me hope to see countries cooperating like this,” she says. “By working together, we can solve some of the problems facing our ocean and combat illegal fishing in our waters.”
That hope is driven by a larger purpose.
Protecting tuna and other fisheries resources, she says, is about much more than fish. It is about safeguarding food security, supporting jobs, preserving cultural identity and ensuring future generations can continue to benefit from the ocean just as previous generations have.
“There are still more tuna and more resources for our communities and for the future of our children,” Stella says. “That is why this work is important.”
As Operation Tui Moana came to a close last weekend, 22 May 2026, Stella is eager to take her new knowledge and experience back to Samoa, where she hopes it will strengthen the work of her surveillance and compliance team.
She believes that the lessons learned will help improve how her team analyses fishing activity and monitors vessels entering Samoan ports.
Yet, despite the sophisticated technology, surveillance tools and complex analyses involved, Stella’s motivation remains remarkably simple.
She has never forgotten where she came from.
The same ocean that fed her village and supported her community is the ocean she now helps protect.
“We are the caretakers of our ocean and our fish,” she says. “There are no more suitable people on earth to be the custodians of the ocean than those for whom the sea is home.”
Led by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Operation Tui Moana 2026 brought together fisheries, maritime and law enforcement personnel from across the region to strengthen efforts against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and other transnational maritime crimes.
The operation covered the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of 10 Pacific Island countries and adjacent high seas areas within the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, combining maritime patrols, aerial surveillance, intelligence analysis and compliance monitoring to identify and deter potential fisheries violations.
At the heart of OPTM26 was the FFA Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre (RFSC) in Honiara, where 21 secondees from Member countries, partner agencies and MCS organisations worked side by side to coordinate intelligence gathering, operational planning and surveillance activities throughout the three-week deployment.
During OPTM26, authorities conducted 61 vessel inspections at sea and in port and verified more than 200 vessel detections across the area of operation. Intelligence and surveillance activities also identified four vessels of interest and led to two apprehensions linked to suspected fisheries-related offences, including concerns involving vessel monitoring system (VMS) non-reporting, unauthorised bunkering and transhipment activities, and logsheet reporting compliance.
Operation Tui Moana is a core component of FFA’s Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) programme and is implemented under the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy. The operation also strengthened cooperation under the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement (NTSA) through coordinated surveillance activities, joint boarding exercises and enhanced intelligence sharing among participating countries.
As Pacific fisheries face increasingly sophisticated compliance challenges, regional operations such as Tui Moana continue to play a critical role in ensuring that fisheries are managed sustainably and that the economic benefits derived from the region’s tuna resources remain with Pacific people.
The operation supports the vision of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, reaffirming the region’s commitment to collective action, regional security and the sustainable management of one of the world’s most valuable tuna fisheries…. PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
Community leaders tackle soaring energy prices with new solar PV systems
NADI, 02 JUNE 2026 (350.ORG) — 350.org Pacific and the Institute of Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) joined community leaders from Fiji, Vanuatu and Tuvalu in a Solar Scholars capacity-building workshop to hone their skills in solar technology and address the current energy crisis.
The Solar Scholars training resulted in two solar photovoltaic (PV) systems being installed on the Yavulo Kindergarten building in Sigatoka and the Fiji Council of Social Services building in Lautoka.
Fourteen community leaders from around the Pacific learnt to assemble solar PV systems that could reduce the strain of rising fuel costs and provide emergency energy during power outages. Global instability has caused global fuel prices to skyrocket, inducing states of emergency, electricity rationing and necessary government subsidies. To increase energy independence in local communities, the Solar Scholars learnt the tools, materials, scoping, assembly and installation processes for a basic solar photovoltaic system.
The training was conducted by the RE-Charge Pilipinas Team of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), who launched the Solar Scholars initiative in 2015 after Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the Eastern Visayas in the Philippines. This pioneered the creation of the Solar TekPak and community solar photovoltaic (PV) system that could be used to power emergency services in cyclone-prone island communities.
Fenton Lutunatabua, 350.org Pacific and Caribbean Program Lead said: “We don’t want to just donate a solar panel and leave. Communities need the basic skills to maintain and manage these systems themselves to be truly resilient. Our people are more than capable of creating their own energy, we just need the right resources and training to make it happen. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, and people everywhere are facing higher electricity bills. Our hope is that these basic solar PV systems and skills can serve as a backup during climate disasters and power outages and can eventually help people save much needed money on high electricity bills.”
Arturo Tahup, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC) Director for Community Resilience said: “Although the global conflict is far away from the Philippines, Fiji, and other Pacific Island nations, it still hits us at home. We feel it every time we go to a station to buy diesel or gasoline. We experience it every time we see the electricity rates and realise our power rates have gone up. And we see that the meager resources we have are already threatened. There’s a saying that every time the sun rises, there is opportunity, so we should make this crisis an opportunity to create a better energy future for all of us.”
Mililani Homasi, Solar Scholar from the Tuvalu Climate Action Network said: “It is so important to at least know the basics if you are going to have a solar energy system – know the basic wiring and materials. I’m so grateful to know how to do it myself now, and I’m so impressed with our team and the practical, hands-on work we were able to achieve. Tuvalu definitely has the potential to transition to solar energy. Our population may be small, but I know we are capable of this.”
Josaia Tokoni, Solar Scholar from the Fiji Council of Social Services said: “I was surprised at how the training made sense, even for those of us less “technical” people. We’re much more confident in the safety requirements, components and basic maintenance of the solar PV system we installed in our office. We are a major coordination hub for disaster response work, but during power outages, we have to go to government offices and charge our emergency communications appliances because they have a diesel generator. This solar PV system is going to give us energy independence to carry out our disaster response work, even in a power outage.’
Kalaveti Nasamila, Solar Scholar and Yavulo Kindergarten Manager said: “I am so grateful to have come to this workshop and learnt how to build and manage this basic solar [PV] system. I’m especially happy for the kids from our village who will use this in their kindergarten. It feels so good to see what we have done during this training actually work. I was on the roof to install the solar panels, and I will be the one to come and dismantle it if we need to take them off during a cyclone. I will do my best to take care of the work we did here…. PACNEWS
