In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific summit to put ‘human face’ on climate change
2. PACIFIC — ‘Listen to the Pacific’: NZ urged to rethink regional approach
3. SOL — Solomons PM says U.S to finance key port after Chinese interest
4. PACIFIC — Pacific Island lawmakers tour Yunnan to study rural vitalisation, ecology
5. FIJI — U.S Congressional leaders introduce resolution to celebrate 55 years of ties with Fiji
6. PACIFIC — Pioneering Programme slashes scabies in Pacific Islands
7. FIJI — Fiji Electoral Commission introduces appeal rules for opinion poll decisions
8. PACNEWS BIZ — Nauru Airlines Appoints Wendy Bowden as Chief Executive Officer
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Government says Google ICT project followed all legal processes
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji Environment Ministry says key Natadola project component declined
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Chinese billionaire visits PNG to discuss business
12. PACNEWS IN FOCUS — Contested and Congested: Pacific Regional Architecture getting complex, security expert says
13. PACNEWS DIGEST — SWAP2 Steering Committee continues momentum to strengthen Pacific’s waste management systems
PAC – CLIMATE CHANGE: AAP PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Pacific summit to put ‘human face’ on climate change
CANBERRA, 30 JULY 2026 (AAP)—Foreign leaders are being urged to not avert their gaze from the impacts of climate change and witness them firsthand in the Pacific region.
Tuvalu High Commissioner Samuelu Laloniu issued the plea at the Australian Clean Energy Summit on Wednesday, saying hard work had gone into convincing presidents and prime minsters to attend pre-COP events in the region to show them the reality behind the research.
The unusual event could also trigger renewable energy commitments and investments in the Pacific region, experts said, although it was unlikely to inspire changes to fossil fuel exports.
The comments came after Fiji and Tuvalu were announced as hosts of pre-COP events in October, which are designed to shape the agenda of the United Nations’ COP31 event in Turkey.
The Tuvalu event would demonstrate the practical impact of global warming on communities, Laloniu said, and show leaders its effects in person rather than in a document.
“They will see the human face of climate change,” he said.
“Tuvalu is one of the nations that are no more than two metres above sea level and now we are having 50 percent of our land frequently flooded during high tides.”
Diplomats from Australia, Fiji and Tuvalu had been working behind the scenes to boost attendance to the event, he said, which would also show how island nations were changing practices to survive.
“We want them to see how we are coping, how we are adapting, and how we are building our resilience, how we, for example, are growing our food crops in lands that are frequently flooded with seawater,” he said.
“Tuvalu has an opportunity to really showcase the need for immediate transformational changes in terms of how we adapt to the climate crisis.”
If well attended, the meetings could also boost investments in Pacific nations, former climate diplomat Thom Woodroofe said, both in donations to the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) and in environmental commitments.
The region had the potential to become the first powered entirely by renewable energy, he said, with the creation of 1500 to 2000 megawatts of stored capacity, equivalent to the power use of Adelaide.
“It probably doesn’t sound like an insurmountable quantum of energy in order to go renewable but of course the challenge is it’s across thousands of different islands,” he said.
Expectations for this year’s COP summit were high,Woodroofe said, particularly in relation to worldwide electrification goals, although conflict in the Middle East would make fuel insecurity hard to ignore.
“There’s a global fossil fuels crisis and at some point global public attention will demand a commensurate response,” he said.
Electrification would dominate talks at both COP events, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience special envoy Kate Thwaites said, but climate finance would also top pre-COP talks…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PMN PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
‘Listen to the Pacific’: NZ urged to rethink regional approach
CHRISTCHURCH, 30 JULY 2026 (PMN)—New Zealand needs to rethink how it engages with its Pacific neighbours, focusing more on listening and partnership than pressure, University of Canterbury Professor Steven Ratuva says.
Speaking on Pacific Mornings, the Director of the Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies said New Zealand’s role in the region would face greater scrutiny as geopolitical competition increases and Pacific countries continue to assert their own priorities.
Ratuva’s comments come as Aotearoa prepares to host the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting next year with regional unity, sovereignty and relations with major powers expected to dominate discussions.
He said New Zealand’s approach in the Pacific had shifted over recent years, moving from the “reset” period focused on strategic competition to a greater emphasis on resilience and people-to-people relationships.
But he said Wellington needed to continue building trust with Pacific governments and communities.
“New Zealand through Winston Peters, the engagement with the Pacific needs to be more along the lines of the resilience philosophy, more engagement with the Pacific leaders, listen to them,” Ratuva said.
He said Pacific relationships could not be built through pressure or threats.
“Rather than using the American style threat as they did to the Cook Islands, that’s not how the Pacific consensus building should operate.”
Ratuva said recent tensions involving Pacific neighbours showed the importance of ensuring smaller island states felt respected and included in regional decision-making.
He said New Zealand needed to consider how its actions were viewed across the region.
“I think what New Zealand’s attitude towards Cook Islands in making those threats had reverberated all around the Pacific,” he said.
“If you can do Cook Islands and do it, well, you also did that to Kiribati, trying to threaten Kiribati to withdraw aid.”
Ratuva said the challenge for New Zealand was creating a more equal relationship with Pacific countries at a time when major powers were competing for influence.
He said Pacific nations were becoming increasingly cautious about being caught between larger countries such as China, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s important for behavioural change from our side in New Zealand in terms of how we deal with Pacific neighbours,” he said.
Ratuva said Pacific countries wanted partnerships that respected their sovereignty and allowed them to make their own decisions.
“I think it’s important for that kind of equity inclusion space to be created in the geopolitics of our region.”
His comments come as Pacific leaders continue to push the message of Pacific ownership through initiatives such as the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which calls for regional solutions shaped by Pacific countries themselves.
Pacific Islands Forum Chair Matthew Wale has also stressed that the region’s future must be shaped by Pacific countries themselves, warning that growing international interest should not override Pacific priorities.
“Our success as a region and as a Pacific continent spread out in our vast ocean of peace lies not in the hands of others but in our very own, unless, of course, we do not take ownership of our destiny, our future, and hand it over to those outside of our region, whether willingly or otherwise,” Wale said in his inaugural address as Forum Chair at the PIF Secretariat in Suva earlier this month.
A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters responded to criticism that New Zealand has relied on pressure rather than partnership in Pacific relationships, saying the Government has made the Pacific its top foreign policy priority.
The spokesperson said Peters had made face-to-face engagement and the Pacific concept of Talanoa central to New Zealand’s approach, becoming the first New Zealand foreign minister to visit all 17 other Pacific Islands Forum member countries since returning to office in 2024.
“Meeting face-to-face and listening respectfully has been at the core of Peters term as Foreign Minister.”
Responding to criticism over Aotearoa’s relationships with the Cook Islands and Kiribati, the spokesperson said both issues were resolved through diplomacy.
“Our disagreements with the Cook Islands and Kiribati were resolved amicably and through diplomacy. These disputes were not overcome in a rush – New Zealand took its time and always acted respectfully.”
The spokesperson also rejected claims New Zealand had used pressure or leverage in its dealings with Kiribati, saying the two countries reached a Statement of Partnership following discussions between their leaders.
With New Zealand set to host Pacific leaders next year, Ratuva said the country’s ability to listen and work alongside its neighbours would be critical.
“It’s important for behavioural change from our side in New Zealand in terms of how we deal with Pacific neighbours,” he said.
The 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be held in Koror, Palau, from 30 August to 4 September. New Zealand will host the following Forum in Auckland in 2027…..PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: AFP PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Solomons PM says U.S to finance key port after Chinese interest
HONIARA, 30 JULY 2026 (AFP)—The United States is in advanced talks to fund a port in the Solomon Islands, the Pacific nation’s leader said, reinvigorating a race for influence with China in the region.
The U.S International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), an agency designed to advance Washington’s foreign policy in developing countries, has struck memorandums with several South Pacific countries indebted to China since May.
Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, where Beijing has built sport stadiums, roads, government offices and airports over the past decade, signed with the DFC to explore infrastructure project, U.S officials said.
The first major project likely to emerge is Bina Harbour, a deep water port in the Solomon Islands, where Washington and Canberra had feared China could build a dual-purpose military and civilian port.
U.S officials have given a “firm commitment, subject to details” to finance a wharf, power, fuel storage and roads at Bina Harbour, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale said after returning from talks in Washington.
“Bina is a critical one,” he told reporters on Monday.
The Solomons has long sought to develop Bina Harbour to berth commercial and international shipping, and boost its tuna industry by opening a canning factory.
A previous Solomons government struck a secret security pact with China in 2022, and a fisheries deal with China National Fisheries Corporation a year later, spurring US concern that Beijing would seek a navy port.
Chinese construction companies were reported to have lobbied previous Solomons governments over the Bina project.
“There is real concern in the US, Australia, Japan and New Zealand about the PLA (Chinese military) attempting to build a permanent military presence in the Pacific on the back of Belt and Road or other infrastructure funding and things like police training,” said Michael Green, chief executive of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.
Wale was elected prime minister in May, pledging change for Beijing’s closest ally in the Pacific, and has since visited Canberra, Washington and Tokyo seeking investment support.
A DFC official told AFP the agency was “open for business in the Solomon Islands” and exploring opportunities to invest alongside private capital.
The official declined to comment on specific projects.
The Quad group of the U.S, Australia, Japan and India said in May they would jointly fund a port in another South Pacific country, Fiji, where a large fleet of Chinese fishing vessels is based.
Chinese state-owned firms dominate Pacific infrastructure contracts, the Lowy Institute think thank said Wednesday.
However Australia has expanded its infrastructure financing to become the region’s largest source of new loans, Lowy’s annual aid survey found…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: CHINA DAILY PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Pacific island lawmakers tour Yunnan to study rural vitalisation, ecology
YUNNAN, 30 JULY 2026 (CHINA DAILY)—More than 40 lawmakers from 10 Pacific island nations visited Yunnan province from Saturday to Monday as part of a tour through China, which began on 21 July with a seminar in Beijing.
They toured urban communities, villages, enterprises, planning exhibition halls, and a world natural heritage museum in Kunming and Yuxi, to learn about the southwestern province’s experiences in rural vitalisation, industrial development, urban and rural planning, and ecological conservation.
“Here in Yunnan, we see clearly how you are serving as the gateway connecting China to Southeast Asia and South Asia — a powerful living example of development through connectivity, cooperation, and shared prosperity,” said Patteson Oti, speaker of the National Parliament of Solomon Islands.
He made the remarks on Monday when Wang Ning, secretary of the CPC Yunnan Provincial Committee and chairman of the Standing Committee of the Yunnan Provincial People’s Congress, met with the delegation in Kunming.
Wang briefed the delegation on Yunnan’s economic and social development, highlighting the province’s unique strengths.
He noted that in recent years, Yunnan has engaged in productive exchanges and cooperation with Pacific island nations.
The province looks forward to deepening collaboration in tourism, culture, education, and other areas, sharing its development experience, and contributing to the building of an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific island nations.
Oti said that the trip had given the delegation a deeper appreciation of China’s development journey. China’s commitment to scientific planning, whole-process people’s democracy, law-based governance, and people-centred development offers profound lessons, he said.
“We will carry these reflections home with great respect as we continue to strengthen our own democratic institutions and to pursue our national development aspirations in the Solomon Islands,” he added……PACNEWS
FIJI – DIPLOMACY: ISLANDS BUSINESS PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
U.S Congressional leaders introduce resolution to celebrate 55 years of ties with Fiji
WASHINGTON, 30 JULY 2026 (ISLANDS BUSINESS) —Pacific leaders in Congress have introduced a resolution to mark 55 years of diplomatic ties with Fiji while reaffirming the United States’ long-term commitment to regional security and environmental cooperation.
The bipartisan resolution is co-led by Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata of American Samoa, alongside Representative for California’s 6th Congressional District, Ami Bera; Representative for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional District Ed Case; and for Guam’s At-Large Congressional District, James Moylan.
Formal diplomatic ties between the nations were established on 22 July 1971. Both have built deep connections through joint military training, maritime law enforcement, disaster response, and cultural exchanges.
Bera noted this resolution proved the US was committed to remain a reliable partner to the Pacific.
“This partnership is especially meaningful in Sacramento County, which is host Fijian immigrant community in our nation,” Bera said.
“Fiji is a valued security partner and regional leader, and our continued cooperation is essential to advancing peace, stability, and prosperity throughout the Pacific.”
Amata emphasised her deep family connections to the island nation, noting that her father was close friends with Fiji’s late founding leader, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. She expressed confidence in a secure shared future highlighted the South Pacific Tuna Treaty Act.
Guam Moylan highlighted opportunities for deeper collaboration in the region.
“As associate members of the Pacific Islands Forum, Guam commends Fiji’s commitment to regional solidarity, mutual security, and economic resilience,” Moylan stated.
Case said cultural ties between Pacific Islanders go back before formal diplomacy, highlighting Hawaii’s hosting of the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) in Honolulu, a traditional showcase originally founded in Suva in 1972……PACNEWS
PAC – HEALTH: UNSW PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Pioneering Programme slashes scabies in Pacific Islands
SYDNEY, 30 JULY 2026 (UNSW)—A world-first scabies control programme has drastically reduced cases of the highly contagious parasitic skin disease in Solomon Islands and Fiji, according to a new study.
The research, led by the World Scabies Programne (WSP) at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and published in Nature Health, found the first national mass drug administration (MDA) programme of its kind has led to substantial and sustained decreases in scabies and associated skin infections across the Pacific nations.
The MDA involved ivermectin, a safe and widely used antiparasitic treatment for neglected tropical diseases.
MCRI Dr Susanna Lake said the results showed that scabies could be controlled through coordinated national action.
“Our findings demonstrate for the first time that scabies, a disease that causes enormous suffering for children and families, can be significantly reduced when effective treatment is delivered at scale,” she said.
The MDA was implemented by the Ministries of Health and Medical Services in Solomon Islands and Fiji with support from the WSP, an initiative of MCRI and including researchers from the Kirby Institute based at UNSW Sydney.
WSP was established in 2019 with the aim of translating research evidence into public health action for scabies control after successfully securing $10 million(US$6.96 million)in support from the Macquarie Group Foundation . The Australian Government also provided further funding.
The study found after two annual rounds of MDA delivered to the entire population of Solomon Islands, scabies prevalence fell from 23.2 percent to 3.9 percent. Rates of impetigo, a skin infection, declined from 9.2 percent to 1.6 percent during the same period.
In Fiji, where one round of MDA was rolled out nationwide, scabies prevalence almost halved from 6.2 percent to 3.4 percent, while impetigo rates dropped from 4.3 percent to 1.2 percent within 12 months of treatment.
Remarkably, more than 2.5 million doses of ivermectin were provided under the MDA programme. Scabies and impetigo decreased across all age groups in both countries, including young children, who experience the highest burden of disease. The prevalence of moderate‑to‑severe scabies also declined substantially.
Scabies, an endemic disease in Pacific Island countries, causes intense itching and skin damage. It can lead to secondary skin infections caused by Strep A bacteria and is linked to serious long‑term complications including kidney and potentially rheumatic heart disease.
Causing more than 600 million cases globally each year, scabies was recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a neglected tropical disease in 2017, prompting increased global focus on effective control strategies.
MCRI Professor Andrew Steer said the findings were particularly important for countries with high scabies cases and limited health system resources.
“Scabies has long been neglected, despite its links to serious infections and long‑term disease,” he said. “Our research provides critical evidence to inform national and international policy and supports the broader integration of scabies control into public health and neglected tropical disease programmes.”
Professor Steer said achieving high coverage in urban areas required multiple strategies to improve access, including delivering MDA through workplaces, schools and community gatherings.
He said further measures were needed to address the ongoing burden of scabies in young children, with prevalence still above 10 percent among those aged under five despite MDA treatment.
The results come as a scabies control guide produced by the WHO, which includes contributions from Dr Lake, Professor Steer and Dr Daniel Engelman, has been published.
The guide outlines how to implement scabies control programmes, including how to estimate disease burden, deliver control measures and establish effective monitoring and evaluation systems…..PACNEWS
FIJI – ELECTION/POLITICS: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 1: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Fiji Electoral Commission introduces appeal rules for opinion poll decisions
SUVA, 30 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Fiji Electoral Commission has adopted new rules setting out how appeals against decisions made by the Supervisor of Elections on opinion polls, surveys and election-related research will be handled.
The Appeals Against Decisions of the Supervisor Regarding Opinion Polls, Surveys and Research Rules 2026 came into effect on 29 July 2026 under the Electoral Act 2014.
The rules establish procedures, forms and timeframes for appeals lodged under section 110A of the Act.
Under the new rules, a person seeking to challenge a decision of the Supervisor must file a Notice of Appeal within 14 days of the decision being made.
The rules also outline who may qualify as “a person aggrieved”, including a person who received a direction from the Supervisor, the publisher or organiser of the opinion poll or survey, or a person named in the poll who is adversely affected by the Supervisor’s decision.
The Commission must provide a copy of the appeal to the Supervisor of Elections within three working days, while the Supervisor must respond within five working days of receiving the notice.
The rules also allow relevant political parties or other affected persons to apply to join proceedings as third parties.
Where an in-person hearing is required, the Commission must schedule it within 15 working days of receiving the appeal, subject to any necessary adjustments to procedural timeframes.
The rules further require the Commission to issue its decision within 15 working days after the completion of the hearing or after receiving any additional evidence or submissions.
According to the Electoral Commission, the rules supplement the broader Adjudication Procedure Rules 2026 by providing procedures specifically for appeals relating to opinion polls, surveys and election research conducted under the Electoral Act….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
NAURU – AIRLINE: PACNEWS PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Nauru Airlines Appoints Wendy Bowden as Chief Executive Officer
YAREN, 30 JULY 2026 (PACNEWS)— Nauru Airlines has appointed Wendy Bowden as its new Chief Executive Officer, saying she will lead the airline’s next phase of growth with a focus on strengthening regional connectivity and partnerships across the Pacific.
In a statement, the airline said Bowden brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in aviation, travel and tourism, including 12 years with Nauru Airlines as Chief Financial Officer.
The airline said Bowden returns with “a clear vision to strengthen our airline, expand connectivity throughout the Pacific and continue building meaningful partnerships that support our communities.”
It said Bowden places a strong emphasis on people and teamwork.
“Most importantly, Wendy is passionate about people. She believes great airlines are built by great teams, strong relationships and a shared commitment to serving the communities that rely on us every day.”
Nauru Airlines said it looks forward to working with Bowden as she begins her new role.
“As Wendy begins this new chapter, we look forward to continuing our journey together and building an even stronger future for Nauru Airlines.”
The airline invited the public to welcome Bowden as she takes up the position of Chief Executive Officer…..PACNEWS
FIJI – ICT PROJECT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Fiji Government says Google ICT project followed all legal processes
SUVA, 30 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Fiji Government has defended the Google ICT Facility development at Natadola, saying all consultations, approvals and legal processes were properly followed as it moved to counter what it described as speculation and misinformation surrounding the project.
In a statement, the Government said it welcomed public interest in the development but wanted to set out the facts as debate over the project intensified.
Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel said the facility was one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in Fiji’s history.
“This facility will strengthen our country’s digital connectivity, improve resilience, create employment and reinforce Fiji’s position as a trusted destination for global technology investment. Fijians deserve to have this conversation based on facts, not speculation, and Government intends to make those facts available at every step.”
The Government said consultations had been carried out with the Ministry of Lands, the iTaukei Land Trust Board (TLTB), the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), Google and community representatives.
It said a joint consultation involving Google, FNPF and the Ministry of Lands was held with the Sanasana community in November 2024, where tribal leaders, elders and villagers were briefed on the project’s scope.
Following the consultations, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on 30 November 2024, while traditional leaders were later invited to Lautoka to tour the specialist cable installation vessel and receive a technical briefing on the submarine cable works.
According to the Government, all approvals required to lay the submarine cable in Fiji’s waters were issued by the relevant authorities in line with Fiji’s legal and regulatory framework.
The Government said the ICT facility occupied a three-acre sublease on land belonging to Tokatoka Vunamocelolo and that consultation on the lease began in November 2023.
It said the sublease was between Staghorn Pte Ltd, a Google subsidiary, and NBRL, a subsidiary of FNPF. To date, about $117,872.37(US$58,936) had been paid to TLTB for distribution to landowners.
The statement said about 110 people, most from Sanasana Village and neighbouring communities in the Malomalo district, were currently employed on the project by Google’s construction contractor, Pernix.
It also said Google and FNPF had committed to community projects, including a water supply project for Sanasana Village and a new marketplace for Sanasana and nearby communities.
Addressing issues raised publicly, the Government said no waiver of customary fishing rights was required for the project and no compensation relating to fishing rights was applicable.
It also said the development covered only a three-acre site and not the entirety of the Vanua o Nahoqo lands.
According to the Government, no formal concerns had been received from the Vanua o Nahoqo or Tokatoka Vunamocelolo regarding the project.
“Government respects the rights and voices of our landowners. Where genuine concerns arise through the proper channels, we remain committed to dialogue, transparency and ensuring that all legal processes are followed. What we will not do is allow a small number of loud but unsubstantiated claims on social media to override a process that has been consulted on, approved and delivered in accordance with the law.”
Immanuel said attracting international investment depended on maintaining both investor confidence and community trust.
“These are not competing objectives — they go hand in hand. We can protect the interests of our people while also creating opportunities that generate jobs, strengthen communities and position Fiji as a leader in the digital economy.”
The Government said it remained committed to ensuring major investments delivered long-term benefits for landowners, surrounding communities and the country while respecting Fiji’s laws, customary land tenure and the rights of indigenous landowners…..PACNEWS
FIJI – CABLE LANDING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Fiji Environment Ministry says key Natadola project component declined
SUVA, 30 JULY 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has clarified that a key component of the proposed Natadola cable landing development was refused environmental approval because of community concerns and inadequate public consultation, despite two other parts of the project receiving approval.
In a statement , the Ministry said the Pacific Connect project comprised three separate developments, each assessed independently under the environmental approval process and not as a single project.
It said the proposed landing station facility developed by Staghorn Services Pte Limited received Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval with conditions on 19 July 2024, while the marine subsea cable landing developed by Yellowfin Infrastructure Pte Limited was approved with conditions on 23 September 2024.
However, the proposed construction of two beach manholes and trenching works linking the cable to the landing station was declined on 05 February 2025.
The Ministry said the refusal followed concerns over the adequacy of community consultation and social survey information.
A social survey conducted in June 2024 involved 50 households in Sanasana Village and stall operators at Natadola Beach. Twenty-eight households participated, while 22 declined to be interviewed. Of those interviewed, four opposed the proposal, citing concerns about its impact on their surroundings, tourism activity and income, while the remaining respondents did not object provided their businesses were not affected.
The Ministry said it later requested additional consultation involving affected stakeholders, including Vanua Naholo, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources, the iTaukei Land Trust Board and the Nadroga Provincial Office.
Following that process, the Department declined the application for the beach manholes and trenching works.
The Ministry said the proponent had been advised that community concerns and consultation issues must be satisfactorily addressed before the application could be reconsidered.
The statement also addressed public concerns linking the development to the high water consumption associated with large overseas data centres.
It said the project assessed by the Department was a cable landing development comprising a landing station, beach manholes, conduits and a marine subsea cable landing, and not a hyperscale data centre.
The Ministry said international water consumption figures for large data centres therefore did not apply, adding that the proposed facility was similar to the Fiji International Telecommunications Ltd (FINTEL) cable landing station at Vatuwaqa, which also accommodates Google’s Bulikula and Tabua undersea cables.
The Ministry also said it was aware of concerns about activities taking place within the project area and was prepared to carry out a compliance inspection to determine whether all environmental approvals, approval conditions and legal requirements were being met.
It said it remained committed to ensuring development proposals were assessed transparently and responsibly while taking into account community concerns, environmental protection and compliance with Fiji’s environmental laws….PACNEWS
PNG – INVESTMENT: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS BIZ: Thu 30 Jul 2026
Chinese billionaire visits PNG to discuss business
PORT MORESBY, 30 JULY 2026 (THE NATIONAL) —Chinese businessman Li Zhang, the R&F Group chairman and president, arrived in Port Moresby this week to discuss potential investment opportunities.
“It is my first time to be in the country,” Li said.
“We have talked about PNG many times with Ambassador of PNG to China Dr Thaddeus Kambanei, and it feels refreshing to be here.
“We are a company in multiple business sectors.
“For the past three decades, we have been centred on city development and real estate.
“We delivered almost two million households in the past years.
“With a lot of commercial offices and hotels buildings in China.
“We are the largest luxury hotel owner in China with over 100 hotels.
“It is a bit downturn in China in terms of the real estate market. The demand is not too much.
“We have driven into mining minerals.
“We are established in many countries including South Africa, where we have mining assets.
“We are here to look at new opportunities to corporate with you.”
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop said there were opportunities for investment.
“We welcome your intention and plans to explore the possibilities for investment in all sectors, housing, hotels, tourism, oil and gas, fisheries, forestry and so many sectors,” he said.
Parkop said there was demand for housing in Port Moresby and welcomed investment in the sector.
Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Rio Fiocco welcomed investors into Port Moresby to explore opportunities.
“We welcome investment in major developments like new shopping malls and residential high rise apartments as well as five-star hotels,” he said.
“These investments are transforming our nation’s capital into the gateway linking PNG with Southeast Asia and to the rest of the Pacific.”…..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
Contested and Congested: Pacific Regional Architecture getting complex, security expert says
WELLINGTON, 30 JULY 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) —A Pacific geopolitical expert there is a risk that Pacific Islands’ priorities and security concerns are being sidelined by increased geopolitical competition and tensions in the region.
This comes amid a growing number of security alliances being formed between Australia and Pacific countries, as well as new regional security organisations, and as China increases its footprint in the region.
Anna Powles, an associate professor at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, told RNZ Pacific that the already crowded regional architecture is becoming more complex, and that there is a need for clarity to ensure it is genuinely Pacific-led.
Johnny Blades: On this growing number of security or defence alliances that we are seeing in the Pacific lately, is there any precedent for this in modern times, in other regions of the world?
Anna Powles: Well, it certainly speaks to the sense of urgency on the part of, of particularly Canberra and and of course New Zealand as well, and it is a reflection of the current security environment and concerns about the trajectory of security in the region.
And where it is an interesting comparison, where we have seen the similarly, if we think about those European countries who were not NATO members and have subsequently become NATO members, such as Sweden, as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and that impetus and the flurry of action and sense of urgency that we have seen in Europe is an interesting comparison when we consider what we are seeing now here in the Pacific.
JB: What do you see as being the risks for Pacific Island countries from these alliances?
AP: The risks are twofold. Firstly, the concern that this flurry of action, this geopolitical contestation, that we have seen really since around 2014, where we started to see it escalate – and then obviously from 2022 onwards, following the signing of the security agreement between Solomon Islands and China – the activity became that much more intensified, and the risks always are that those priorities that have been identified by Pacific Island countries themselves and laid out in declarations such as the Boe Declaration that was signed in 2018, that those concerns, those security priorities such as transnational crime, environmental security, climate change as the existential threat to Pacific peoples, to the region itself, that those issues are going to be crowded out as a consequence of geopolitical interests in the region.
We see this a great deal by the fact that even though there is discussion, there is references to Pacific Islands Forum centrality, which is similar to taking taking a spin from ASEAN centrality. There is rhetoric and the strategic narrative that the Pacific Islands Forum is at the centre of the regional architecture. But what we are seeing through this hub and spokes type model, at which Australia is very much at the centre of these regional, both bilateral and regional security and defence arrangements.
We are seeing the regional security architecture itself becoming increasingly broadened, and there are certainly concerns about what this means for the region itself, for what it means for a genuinely Pacific-led regional security architecture. The Pacific Elders group have raised these concerns themselves only a week or so ago publicly that Pacific priorities are being diluted, that Pacific priorities and strategic narratives, such as the Blue Ocean of Peace are being diluted and potentially undermined by this intensified strategic competition taking place in the region.
JB: Looking at the the Ocean of Peace Centre, at least as it stemmed from the Ocean of Peace Alliance signed by Fiji and Australia a few weeks ago, how do you expect the centre to operationalise the Ocean of Peace Declaration that was earlier made by Pacific Forum countries?
AP: I think we are waiting to see that. Certainly, if Fiji put their hand up to to lead to host the Ocean of Peace Centre in Fiji, and it is as far as we understand, it will be as you say operationalising the Ocean of Peace Declaration, which was signed by foreign leaders at the last leaders summit in 2025. So presumably, it will seek to lead Pacific conversations on the issues that the Ocean of Peace have have identified as being critical, particularly around managing and navigating crises in the region.
There is very little information in the public domain as yet about what the mandate of the Ocean of Peace Centre will be, but we understand that it will, as you say, operationalise the Ocean of Peace Declaration.
JB: RNZ Pacific has heard some comments of concern from civil society about where the centre may be heading, or where the security alliances are heading. But your thoughts on Marco De Jong’s comment about maybe regional civil society had asked for a peace centre, but maybe they got a military base instead. Is that a bit unrealistic, do you think?
AP: I think civil society are rightly concerned about the hijacking of peace building mechanisms in the region, and obviously the Pacific civil society, have been at the forefront of leading on issues such as nuclear non-proliferation, climate change, oceans governance, and so on. Their voices in this conversation is incredibly important.
There is there is and concern that there has been this co-opting of language in the region. We thought firstly when we started talking about the Blue Pacific and the Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, we saw the co-opting of that term Blue Pacific. And now we are also seeing this co-opting of that the Ocean of Peace language as well for strategic narrative purposes.
How that will play out again, it is less clear. Presumably, as Fiji has has put their hand up to to host the Ocean of Peace Centre, and the Ocean of Peace, of course, is very much Prime Minister Rabuka’s legacy project. Hopefully, that will mean that it does maintain that regional ownership.
But specific civil society across the region have been deeply concerned that even the Ocean of Peace Declaration has not gone far enough with respect to really anchoring peace building and emphasising peace over security. Those concerns and those perspectives need to be very much part of this conversation as well.
JB: I know you have been tracking the regional security pacts and agreements that have been forged, and and also the regional security-related structures that have been established in recent times. Are they all becoming a bit complicated? Are there too many security arrangements?
AP: Well, certainly, what we are seeing increasingly is a sort of lattice work security architecture, or this highly networked security architecture in the Pacific. But it does feel that there is potentially some overlap, and as a consequence critical gaps as well. If the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) is at the heart of the regional security architecture, then it needs to be very clear that the Pacific Islands Forum itself has both the mandate and oversight of these various different regional security institutions or arrangements, and so on.
The review of the regional architecture is seeking of clarify and streamline and better align the existing, already crowded and increasingly contested architecture, and these additional security arrangements overlay the existing murkiness that we do see in the region.
So it becomes very congested, but it also becomes congested in a number of critical ways, which is who decides on the rules for the region. For example, who makes the rules, who is the trusted partner, who is the trusted security partner, who upholds the rules, and who provides oversight?
All of those types of questions we need greater clarity on, and this is certainly something that, again, where civil society have been asking these questions loudly and frequently. We need to be finding those answers before the regional security architecture is inadvertently weakened as a consequence of this effort to strengthen it.
JB: Do you think there is a risk of developments in this space nudging the Pacific towards militarisation in a way that Pacific Islanders say they they deeply oppose?
AP: There is certainly a risk. Firstly, these agreements are certainly security agreements such as the Pukpuk Treaty, Veitacini Treaty between Australia and Fiji, the recent agreement that New Zealand just signed with Papua New Guinea, also with Cook Islands as well, amongst others, Nakamal (Vanuatu), Falepili (Tuvalu), and so forth from Australia.
Ans New Zealand’s perspective, these agreements form a broader effort, which is very much about strategic denial and very much about securing the region through these binding Pacific Island countries to Australia, to New Zealand, and to a shared sense of collective security, and importantly, a shared sense of a collective threat landscape as well.
Now, obviously, Pacific countries will differ in how they view that threat landscape, and this is where it starts to get really tricky with these agreements, because there are certain demands, potentially. If you look at, for example, the agreement between Papua New Guinea and the United States, which gives the United States access to six different sites in Papua New Guinea, these could potentially bind Pacific countries to the United States, to Australia, to New Zealand in the case of any type of conflict in, for example, the Taiwan Straits.
So there are inherent risks here. Of course, Pacific countries have agency when they sign these agreements, but we also know that there is a degree of asymmetry when when it comes to power relationships as well. So there is that danger, yes.
JB: In the current dynamic geopolitics, we have seen PNG’s government announce that it will close Taiwan’s representative office in Port Moresby. That seems like a big development, would you agree? And what does that mean – a clear concession to China?
AP: Without a doubt. If you consider the fact that whittling down Taiwan’s allies in the Pacific has been a central objective of Chinese engagement in the Pacific for several decades since the cheque book diplomacy years of the 1980s, 1990s, and it has been very successful in doing so.
I mean, within one week, we saw both Solomon Islands and and Kiribati switching diplomatic recognition, followed by Nauru. And now, there are only three Pacific countries who remain allied to, or recognise, Taiwan. So this is a very geopolitical move by by Papua New Guinea as well, and doing so is sending a very strong signal to China.
In fact, that is actually reflected in the comments made by Papua New Guinea when they announced that decision that the Chinese ambassador was informed of the decision, so it does send a very strong signal. But it also needs to be understood in terms of Papua New Guinea hedging and balancing its relationships between China and and and with Australia as well. So, it is not simply a case of alignment by any stretch of imagination. It is more a a strategy of hedging and balancing core relationships.
JB: The Taiwanese Trade Office is a feature in numerous Pacific countries where they otherwise do not formally recognise Taiwan diplomatically.
AP: Yes, exactly. These tensions have arisen before, in Fiji for instance, not so long ago as well. I think what people are concerned about is certainly the manner in which this was conducted. It was quite undiplomatic, and Taiwan is a valued economic partner of Papua New Guinea.
Taiwan imports something like a third of Papua New Guinea’s LNG (liquefied natural gas) – so by no means an insignificant economic partner. The way that this was conducted, it was really very unfortunate [and] sends a very strong message in the lead up to the PIF leaders’ meeting in Palau.
Palau, of course, recognises Taiwan. It certainly sends an uncomfortable message….PACNEWS
PACNEWS DIGEST
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
SWAP2 Steering Committee continues momentum to strengthen Pacific’s waste management systems
APIA, 30 JULY 2026 (SPREP)—The impact of a project helping Pacific communities strengthen waste management systems, reduce pollution, and build a more circular and resilient Pacific, is being recognised in Samoa, this week.
The successes, challenges and aspirations of the Sustainable Waste Actions in the Pacific – Phase 2 (SWAP2) project are being discussed as Pacific members and partners gather for the second Steering Committee Meeting (SCM), at SPREP’s Vailima headquarters, from 28-29 July.
Lealaisalanoa Frances Brown Reupena, CEO of Samoa’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) said the gathering reflects the shared commitment to address waste-management challenges facing the Pacific.
“For Samoa, SWAP2 has delivered practical results in marine litter management, waste audits, used-oil management, public awareness, and capacity building,” said Brown Reupena.
“These activities have strengthened collaboration across government, communities, the private sector, and development partners.
“Our waste audits and marine-litter surveys are providing valuable data to support better planning and policy decisions, while SWAP2 has also enabled the environmentally sound export and treatment of more than 60,000 litres of stockpiled used oil, significantly reducing environmental and public health risks.”
Funded by the Agence Française de Développement through a EUR 4.3 million(US$4.92 million) investment and executed [JP1.1]by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP), SWAP2 covers nine countries and territories, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna. The work builds on the strong results delivered during the first phase of the project.
On Marine litter, through108 beach surveys and the audit of more than 106,000 items of waste since the beginning of the SWAP Project in 2020, countries and territories are generating robust, comparable, and scientifically credible data on the sources, composition, and quantities of litter found throughout our region.
This information is becoming increasingly valuable, contributing to regional and international discussions on plastic pollution, including preparations for future negotiations on the global plastics treaty.
This data is also being used to support national policy development. The Kingdom of Tonga for example has produced an in-depth analysis of marine litter data that provides reliable evidence on the prevalence of single-use plastics, particularly plastic bags and food containers.
SPREP Director General,Sefanaia Nawadra, said this is a powerful example of how data collected by local communities, government agencies, and project partners can be transformed into practical tools for policy change and environmental protection.
“The challenges posed by waste and pollution are growing across our region. At the same time, Pacific countries are demonstrating leadership through innovative solutions, regional cooperation, and evidence-based decision-making,” said Nawadra.
Addressing the challenge of used oil is a key component of the project. The launch of pilot projects in Kiribati, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands have provided valuable lessons to be shared with other countries facing similar challenges.
The development of pyrolysis solutions in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and a test/pilot operation in Kiribati to assess the feasibility of backloading used oil in fuel tanks returning to New Zealand for reprocessing offers valuable insights into the technical, financial, and regulatory requirements associated with used oil management in small island developing states.
On Solid Waste Management, SWAP 2 has trained women groups in Vanuatu to produce reusable products from recycled plastic materials. The scrap metal recovery facility in Wallis and Futuna, and the establishment of reuse centres in French Polynesia demonstrate how waste can become a resource while creating economic and social opportunities for local communities.
“These achievements provide a strong foundation from which the project can now accelerate implementation during the remaining years of SWAP2. More importantly, they are generating practical experiences and evidence that can be shared across the region to support better waste management outcomes for all Pacific Island countries and territories,” added Nawadra.
“As we look ahead to 2026–2028, our ambition is not only to deliver infrastructure, equipment, training, and pilot projects. Our objective is also to ensure the sustainability of project activities and to generate the evidence, knowledge, and success stories needed to support informed decision-making, strengthen long-term policy development across the Pacific, and demonstrate the value of continued investment in sustainable waste management.”
The Steering Committee Meeting provides an opportunity to review progress, share lessons and experiences, refine priorities, and agree on the work programme and budget for the year ahead.
Sophie Soejitno, Regional Policy Officer, Pacific Ocean Directorate said AFD is pleased to continue to support the project. She noted the SWAP 2’s implementation framework is in place, activities are progressing, and the first tangible results are emerging across several partner countries and territories.
“Today’s Steering Committee provides an important opportunity to continue building this collective momentum,” she said. “We remain fully committed to working alongside SPREP and all project partners to support the successful implementation of SWAP2.”
The first day of the SCM concluded with a visit to the MNRE’s Waste Management Education Centre at Tafa’igata, funded by SWAP2, highlighting the importance of combining infrastructure with education and community engagement to encourage lasting behavioural change…..PACNEWS
