In this bulletin:
1. PACIFIC — Pacific journalists urged to scrutinise climate finance
2. FIJI — Constitution timeline could put Fiji election at risk: GCC member Ro Naulu Mataitini
3. PACIFIC — Pacific leaders’ priorities set for UN General Assembly
4. B/VILLE — Bougainville veterans urged to protect peace and mine redevelopment
5. SOL— Japan gives UNDP US$3 million for Solomon Islands election
6. PACIFIC — Women leaders, journalists unite for accountability training in Savusavu
7. PACIFIC — USP Journalism student joins regional media leaders at 8th Pacific Media Summit
8. TOKELAU — Scientists embark on expedition to study Tokelau’s unexplored underwater world
9. PACNEWS BIZ — Proposed visa-free entry for Filipino travelers projected to bring 25K new visitors to Guam
10. PACNEWS BIZ — Pacific priorities take centre stage at global tuna conference
11. PACNEWS BIZ — Fiji seeks Australian expertise on mining, land reforms
12. PACNEWS BIZ — Record NZ travel puts Pacific tourism in strong position – SPTO
13. PACNEWS BIZ — Tonga Inflation jumps to 12 percent as food and transport costs rise
14. PACNEWS DIGEST — The Pacific Ocean of Peace, an idea whose time has not come
15. PACNEWS DIGEST — What’s wrong with U.S Pacific Islands Policy?
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT/ANTI CORRUPTION: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Pacific journalists urged to scrutinise climate finance
By Pita Ligaiula in Savusavu
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Pacific journalists will examine corruption risks in climate finance and disaster response programmes Monday, focusing on how weak oversight can divert resources intended for vulnerable communities.
The issue will be discussed during the Climate Change and Corruption roundtable at the 8th Pacific Media Summit in Savusavu.
The session will focus on how weak governance, limited oversight and complex funding arrangements can affect the delivery of climate and disaster resources to communities.
Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) are facing increasingly severe and frequent climate-related disasters, placing growing pressure on national systems, institutions and communities.
As countries scale up investment in climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction and recovery, the roundtable will examine the importance of ensuring these resources are used effectively, transparently and accountably.
The session will highlight several potential corruption entry points in the climate finance system.
These include large amounts of adaptation, mitigation, carbon credit and disaster funding moving quickly through systems where oversight capacity may be limited.
Technical complexity in areas such as carbon offset calculations, land-use assessments and climate vulnerability data can also make it difficult to identify inflated or fabricated figures.
Land and resource rights present another risk, particularly through REDD+ programmes, carbon offset projects and renewable energy developments involving customary or contested land.
The roundtable will also examine how multiple layers of international climate funds, national governments and local implementers can create gaps in accountability.
Emergency procurement following cyclones and other disasters can present additional risks when normal tendering and audit processes are bypassed.
The discussion will emphasise that corruption in climate finance is not only a financial issue but can directly affect communities that depend on these resources.
Weak governance and limited accountability can undermine climate and disaster responses, erode public trust and increase the vulnerability of communities following climate shocks.
The session will also consider climate finance from a human rights perspective, including non-discrimination, meaningful participation of affected communities, access to information and access to remedies when systems fail.
The discussion is aligned with the Teieniwa Vision for a Pacific free of corruption, which highlights integrity, accountability and people-centred governance as foundations for sustainable development.
Pacific journalists will also be encouraged to use investigative reporting techniques to follow climate funding from commitments and allocations through to projects on the ground.
These include comparing pledged or allocated funds with what has actually been delivered, examining procurement contracts and investigating companies awarded climate-related contracts.
Journalists can also cross-check beneficial ownership information against politically exposed persons and speak directly with affected communities to compare their experiences with official project reports.
The use of satellite and remote-sensing data can help verify claims involving reforestation, land use and project completion, while carbon credit registries can provide information on projects involving potential reversals, double-counting or auditor conflicts of interest.
The roundtable forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Pacific investigative journalism and anti-corruption reporting.
The Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have worked with Pacific anti-corruption journalists since 2019.
Earlier this year, PINA and UNODC launched the Partnership for Journalists for Pacific Anti-Corruption and Transparency project, supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The project aims to strengthen the region’s media sector and support journalists in maintaining scrutiny of institutions and public commitments.
The session will also consider recent international anti-corruption commitments, including Resolution 11/9 adopted at the 11th Conference of the States Parties to the UN Convention against Corruption on preventing and combating corruption linked to environmental crimes.
The resolution includes measures relating to procurement integrity, beneficial ownership transparency and public access to information.
The Pacific-led roundtable aims to give journalists an opportunity to share country experiences, identify practical approaches to reporting climate-related corruption and strengthen collaboration ahead of future COP discussions….PACNEWS
FIJI – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Constitution timeline could put Fiji election at risk: GCC member Ro Naulu Mataitini
SUVA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Rewa chief and Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) member Ro Naulu Mataitini says Fiji must put the next general election ahead of constitutional reform to avoid creating uncertainty over the country’s electoral timetable.
Mataitini says the proposed process to have a new Constitution in place by 24 December 2026 leaves too little time for proper scrutiny, public debate, civic education and preparations for an election that must be held by 6 February 2027.
Cabinet has proposed a referendum between November and mid-December, with a new Constitution to come into force by 24 December if approved through the required processes.
Mataitini argues that the constitutional process should be sequenced rather than rushed to meet a deadline.
“The real choice is between a process that belongs to us the people, and one that belongs to the calendar.
“Let Fijians vote on time. Then let the people decide what comes next. That is sovereignty,” he said.
Mataitini sets out two options, with the first being to hold the general election on time and begin a new constitution-making process afterwards with a fresh parliamentary mandate.
“Hold the general election on time by 06 February 2027. Let the people choose their representatives. Then, with a fresh mandate, begin a genuinely participatory constitution-making process,” he said.
He said this would allow a new Parliament to take ownership of the constitutional process and give Fijians more time to debate and participate in shaping a new constitutional framework.
“The objection: what if the new Parliament refuses to act? That is a risk democracy requires us to accept.
“A constitution made without a fresh mandate is a greater problem than one delayed by the verdict of voters,” Mataitini said.
His second option is for constitutional reform to proceed before the election, but with safeguards to ensure the new Constitution does not disrupt the established electoral process.
“If a new Constitution must come first, it must not determine the next election’s conditions without safeguards,” he said.
Mataitini said any major changes to the electoral system should be supported by transitional provisions and independently assessed to ensure the election can still be conducted lawfully and on time.
He said the Electoral Commission and Supervisor of Elections should establish whether the election can proceed under any new constitutional framework, while allowing sufficient time for scrutiny, independent oversight, cross-party engagement and civic education.
“What is not workable is a new Constitution commencing on 24 December 2026 -the day the election writ is due with no guarantee the election can proceed,” he said.
The Government has said its proposed timeline includes consideration of transitional arrangements and that Cabinet’s decision to table the Constitution Review Commission report does not amount to acceptance of all its recommendations.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has previously said Fiji must have an election by 6 February 2027 and that, if the constitutional review is not completed, the election would proceed under the existing laws and regulations.
Mataitini says the worst outcome would be a new Constitution that lacks broad public support while also creating uncertainty over the election.
“The worst outcome is a new Constitution without broad buy-in and a delayed election.
“That would combine the legitimacy problems of 2013 with the uncertainty of 2026–27, giving critics a permanent grievance and defenders of the old order a talking point,” he said.
He said Fiji could otherwise enter the next electoral cycle with both a contested Constitution and a contested election.
“That is not renewal. It is instability,” Mataitini said.
Mataitini also argues that constitutional legitimacy depends not only on the content of a document but on how it is developed and adopted.
“A constitution derives legitimacy not only from what it says but from how and when it is made,” he said.
He said Fiji should develop a constitutional model that reflects its own history, customary institutions and democratic rights, rather than treating constitutional reform solely as a parliamentary or legal exercise.
“This matters for a Pasifika democracy.
“Fiji need not import its democracy wholesale; it has its own foundations,” he said.
Mataitini said a locally grounded constitutional process would require time, dialogue and broad participation.
“Sequencing makes a locally grounded constitution possible. Speed risks making it impossible,” he said.
He said the test of sovereignty was whether Fijians had the opportunity to deliberate, shape, accept or reject the constitutional framework.
“The sovereignty test is not the passport of the funder or the location of the drafters. It is whether the people have power to deliberate, shape, accept or reject,” Mataitini said.
Mataitini said Fiji should not allow the constitutional process to become driven by a fixed Christmas deadline.
“The Kirisimasi Constitution should not be born.
“Our politicians have the watch. We the people have the time,” he said.
The Constitution Review Commission submitted its report and Draft Constitution Bill to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu on 31 August. Cabinet has supported the report being tabled in Parliament, with debate scheduled from 28 September.
The proposed timeline would see a referendum held between November and mid-December, followed by commencement of a new Constitution by 24 December if approved through the required processes.
The latest possible date for the Writ of Election is 24 December 2026, with the final date for the general election set at 06 February 2027…..PACNEWS
PAC – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS/PIFS PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Pacific leaders’ priorities set for UN General Assembly
NEW YORK, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS/PIFS) — Pacific Islands Forum Deputy Secretary General Esala Nayasi has briefed the region’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations on the outcomes of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and priorities for the upcoming UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Nayasi met the Pacific Islands Forum Permanent Representatives to the United Nations (PRUNs) at UN Headquarters in New York.
The briefing focused on the outcomes of the Leaders Meeting held in Palau earlier this month and how these decisions will shape the Forum’s engagement with the United Nations.
Discussions also examined key regional priorities Pacific leaders are expected to advance during the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting also considered preparations for the annual Pacific Islands Forum–United Nations Secretary-General Dialogue.
The dialogue provides a platform for Pacific leaders to engage directly with the UN Secretary-General and advance regional priorities while strengthening cooperation between the Pacific Islands Forum and the United Nations.
The briefing comes as Pacific leaders prepare for a busy UN General Assembly programme, with regional priorities expected to include climate change, sustainable development, ocean governance, peace and security and the interests of Small Island Developing States….PACNEWS
B/VILLE – MINING ARSON ATTACK: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Bougainville veterans urged to protect peace and mine redevelopment
BUKA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)—Bougainville’s Minister for Veterans Lynus Dake Junior has called on veterans, chiefs, churches and community leaders to work with police to prevent further unrest following the arson attack at the Panguna mine site.
Dake said Bougainvilleans must protect the peace achieved after years of conflict and ensure grievances over the Panguna mine redevelopment are addressed through lawful processes rather than violence.
“Emerging issues must be discussed and resolved through due processes since resorting to violence will only encourage violence,” Dake said in a statement to Bougainvilleans, veterans and veteran leaders.
He condemned the arson attack at Lloyds Metal & Energy Limited’s B20 camp at Panguna on 13 September, saying those responsible must face the law.
“This was not protest or land related grievance, but it was a crime of selfish interest motivated by greed and criminal elements,” he said.
“Those responsible must face the full force of the law.”
Dake said the attack had damaged Bougainville’s reputation and could undermine confidence among development partners and non-Bougainvilleans.
“This attack on Lloyds Metal & Energy Limited’s assets damages our reputation both domestically and internationally, contradicting who we are as a peaceful people,” he said.
He called on churches, clan leaders, chiefs and families to cooperate with the Bougainville Police Service by reporting suspects and supporting investigations.
“Communities must cooperate fully and not obstruct investigations. We must uphold the rule of law, and no suspect should be presumed innocent or guilty until proven so in court,” Dake said.
He also called on anyone involved in the attack to surrender voluntarily and urged them to hand over illegal firearms allegedly used in the crime.
Dake said veterans across Bougainville were prepared to work with police to prevent further unrest, despite limited resources within the Bougainville Police Service.
“Despite the BPS’s limited resources, veterans across the breadth and length of Bougainville stand ready to support and prevent further unrest,” he said.
“Peace, unity, and stability will prevail here. We paid a high price for the peace and development that we now enjoy, and it will be protected at all costs.”
Dake said veterans supported the Autonomous Bougainville Government and Panguna landowners’ decision to pursue socio-economic development through the redevelopment of the Panguna mine.
He said veterans had followed consultations between the landowners and the ABG since 2020 and supported implementation of decisions reached through that process.
“Our veterans from across all three regions support the ABG and Panguna Landowners’ decision to pursue socio-economic development through Panguna Mine redevelopment,” he said.
“The landowners must understand that the veterans respect your rights and responsibilities, and fully support an inclusive, peaceful, well-regulated mining process.”
Dake said veterans had stood with Panguna landowners during the 1988–1998 conflict to close the mine and were prepared to support them again as the redevelopment process moves forward.
“We stood with you in 1988 to 1998 to close the mine and we are committed to stand with you again to reopen it,” he said.
He also welcomed the position taken by the family of late Bougainville leader Francis Ona of Guava village in support of reopening the mine.
Dake said the family’s position and its public alignment with the ABG on 17 September demonstrated a commitment to unity and socio-economic development.
He said Guava leaders had also expressed willingness to ensure the wider Bougainville community could be compensated for losses suffered during the crisis.
Dake urged veterans from the North and South to work with Central Bougainville veterans and police to prevent any spillover from the 13 September incident.
“The Panguna Mine redevelopment process must be protected from persons with selfish interests,” he said.
He warned that criminal activity and illegal firearms posed risks to Bougainville’s international reputation and its aspirations for greater political status.
“Such crimes are rare to Bougainville but pose enormous risk to our international reputation and sovereignty aspirations,” Dake said.
He urged veteran and community leaders to work with police to identify threats early and monitor the movement of criminal elements and illegal firearms between regions.
Dake also called on veterans to mentor young people as Bougainville approaches the ratification of the 2019 independence referendum result in the PNG National Parliament.
He said veterans had a responsibility to guide young people towards responsible citizenship and acceptance of the ABG as Bougainville’s legitimate government.
He called on parents to warn young people against illegal firearms and criminal activity.
“OUR YOUTH MUST BECOME NATION BUILDERS, NOT DESTROYERS — LAW-KEEPERS, NOT LAWBREAKERS,” Dake said…..PACNEWS
SOL – DIPLOMACY: PACNEWS PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Japan gives UNDP US$3 million for Solomon Islands election
HONIARA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACNEWS)— Japan has provided US$3million to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to strengthen electoral institutions and support inclusive and transparent elections in Solomon Islands.
The JPY430 million(US$3 million) contribution will support the Solomon Islands Democratic Governance and Electoral Assistance Project (SIDGEAP), implemented with the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission (SIEC) and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
The funding will support preparations for future elections, including the 2028 General Elections, through institutional strengthening, technical training, improved facilities and civic education.
Japan’s Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Keiichi Higuchi, said free, inclusive and fair elections were essential to a stable democracy.
“Indispensable to any stable democracy is an election that is free, inclusive, and fair,” Higuchi said.
He said the 2024 Joint Elections had been recognised for their transparency and credibility, providing a foundation for further electoral improvements.
“Building on that achievement, Japan is partnering with UNDP and SIEC to strengthen facilities, provide technical training, and expand civic education,” he said.
“These measures will ensure that future elections, including the 2028 General Elections, are transparent, inclusive, and trusted by all citizens.”
The funding was formalised at a signing ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Honiara attended by Higuchi, UNDP Pacific Resident Representative Munkhtuya Altangerel and SIEC Chief Electoral Officer Jasper Highwood Anisi.
Altangerel said the partnership would help Solomon Islands strengthen its electoral systems ahead of polling day.
“We deeply value Japan’s generous support, which builds on the lessons of the 2024 Joint Elections and positions Solomon Islands to advance institutional, legal, and operational readiness well ahead of polling day,” she said.
“Together, we are committed to accountable institutions and inclusive participation led and owned by Solomon Islanders.”
Anisi said the partnership would build on previous electoral achievements and strengthen preparations for future by-elections and the 2028 General Elections.
“Japan’s support, together with UNDP through SIDGEAP, builds on the credibility of past elections and positions us to deliver future by-elections and the 2028 General Elections with even greater transparency and inclusiveness,” he said.
He said the Electoral Commission was also working to ensure greater participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.
“Guided by our Strategic Plan, we are embedding reforms and innovations that will ensure women, youth, and persons with disabilities are not only participants but leaders in shaping the democratic future of Solomon Islands,” Anisi said.
Japan joins Australia and the United Kingdom as development partners supporting the UNDP-led programme, building on European Union support during the previous electoral cycle.
UNDP said the partnership would continue beyond the 2028 elections to support Solomon Islands-led efforts to strengthen electoral institutions, expand inclusive participation and build public confidence in electoral processes…PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: FIJI SUN PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Women leaders, journalists unite for accountability training in Savusavu
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Grassroots women leaders and media practitioners will come together in Savusavu today for a two-day training focused on strengthening public accountability and community engagement.
Balance of Power executive director Mereani Rokotuibau will deliver the keynote address at the opening of the National Training of Women Auditors on the Kacivaka Tool.
The workshop, funded through the Australia-Fiji Governance Partnership Community Engagement Fund, is co-facilitated by the Fiji Council of Social Services and Women in Media Fiji.
It brings together community women leaders, women journalists and male allies to build practical skills in assessing public sector transparency, data integrity and community engagement.
Participants will use the Kacivaka Diagnostic Framework to identify accountability gaps and develop stronger, evidence-based storytelling and advocacy.
The training is being held as an official side event of the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) Summit and builds on the organisations’ collaboration under the PEARL Phase 2 Training in May.
That programme focused on strengthening women’s leadership and media engagement for inclusive elections.
Organisers say the latest training reflects the growing role of partnerships between grassroots women advocates and the media in promoting open government, democratic accountability and community-led solutions…..PACNEWS
PAC – PACIFIC MEDIA SUMMIT: USP/WANSOLWARA PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
USP Journalism student joins regional media leaders at 8th Pacific Media Summit
SAVUSAVU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (USP/WANSOLWARA)—Final-year University of the South Pacific (USP) Journalism student Prishanta Sharma is participating in the 8th Pacific Media Summit 2026 in Savusavu from 21–25 September.
This was made possible through a sponsored opportunity made available through the Pacific Islands News Association (PINA) and USP’s ongoing partnership with the Journalism Programme.
As part of PINA’s commitment to its Memorandum of Understanding with the USP Journalism Programme, Prishanta will participate in the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)-supported pre-summit workshop, gaining valuable exposure to experienced media practitioners and strengthening her skills in investigative reporting.
She will also be writing stories from the summit for the USP Journalism student training newspaper Wansolwara.
The Journalism Programme and the Wansolwara editorial team would like to thank USP’s School of Pacific Arts, Communication and Education (SPACE) and its Head of School, Professor Danyal Farsani, for their support in paying for the registration fee for the event.
As part of the pre-summit workshop, the UNODC will facilitate a media roundtable on climate corruption and transnational organised crime.
Other sessions will involve organisations including BBC Media Action, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, the Pacific Media Assistance Scheme (PACMAS), the Waitt Institute, Women in Media Fiji and the Fiji Council of Social Services.
Held under the theme “Reaching the Remote: Media & Digital Innovation for a Connected Blue Pacific,” the 8th Pacific Media Summit brings together media practitioners, communicators, policymakers, development partners and digital innovators to explore how technology and innovation can strengthen connections across the region.
For Prishanta, participation in the summit provides an opportunity to take her academic learning beyond the classroom and engage directly with the regional media industry.
“I really appreciate this opportunity and am grateful for the Journalism teaching staff’s trust and confidence in me. I look forward to making the most of this experience and representing USP Journalism to the best of my ability,” she said.
Teaching Assistant Monika Singh said the opportunity would benefit Prishanta by providing first-hand exposure to contemporary journalism practices and enabling her to develop professional networks with experienced media practitioners.
Singh said the experience would also benefit the Journalism Programme by bringing fresh industry perspectives and practical insights back into the classroom, further strengthening the connection between journalism education and the evolving Pacific media landscape.
The opportunity also demonstrates the value of collaboration between journalism education and the media industry in preparing students for professional practice.
Through opportunities such as this, USP and its industry partners continue to support the development of skilled, connected and future-ready Pacific journalists.
The Journalism Programme also thanks PINA President Kalafi Moala for the sponsorship.
During a meeting of the PINA board members and USP Journalism in April this year, Mr Moala assured the Programme Coordinator, Associate Professor Shailendra Singh, that PINA would encourage and support greater participation of journalism students in regional initiatives, including attendance at the biennial Pacific Media Summit.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka will officially open the Summit in Savusavu on 23 September, bringing together almost 200 media professionals and stakeholders from across the Pacific.
The summit is being held in Fiji for the first time in 14 years, with discussions expected to focus on press freedom, media sustainability, climate and disaster reporting, artificial intelligence, digital innovation, public broadcasting and inclusive media leadership.
The event will end on 25 September with the PINA Annual General Meeting and the presentation of a Savusavu Outcome Statement by FMA President Rosi Tamani-Doviverata and PINA President Kalafi Moala.
The summit is supported by Australia’s Regional Media Support Fund (RMSF), PACMAS, the British High Commission, BBC Media Action, the Government of Fiji, FCOSS, the Pacific Community (SPC), SPREP, UNODC and the Waitt Institute. Vodafone Fiji is also a corporate partner for the event….PACNEWS
TOKELAU – OCEAN EXPEDITION: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS 2: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Scientists embark on expedition to study Tokelau’s unexplored underwater world
NUKUNONU, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — “Master fishermen of the ocean, remember the sustenance of the people.” This line from a Tokelauan song captures the islanders’ relationship to the ocean, which represents their identity and steers their blue economy.
“The ocean sustains our livelihoods, nourishes our families and underpins our food security through the resources harvested from our lagoon and the vast Pacific Ocean,” said Paula Faiva, director of the Ministry of Climate, Oceans and Resilience.
“It is our pathway between our atolls and outer islets, connecting our communities and linking us to the wider world,” he added.
Its reliance on the bounty of the ocean drives Tokelau’s push for conservation and marine protection. Though small in landmass with three atolls making up the island chain, Tokelau is known as a powerhouse of sustainable ocean management and economic resilience.
“Tokelau’s commitment to ocean conservation is an inspiration and we’re honored to support its vision for future marine management,” said Kelly Moore, a marine ecologist.
National Geographic Pristine Seas Saturday begins an expedition in Tokelau to survey biodiversity in reef, mid-ocean and deepwater sites and collect data to support the nation’s ongoing conservation efforts.
At the invitation of Tokelau’s government and in partnership with its Ministry of Climate, Ocean and Resilience, the team of scientists and filmmakers will study the nation’s marine ecosystems to identify vital areas for protection and guide the development of a future National Ocean Policy and marine spatial plan.
“We hope our efforts studying the stunning waters near Nukunonu, Atafu and Fafaofo will provide leaders and communities with information they need to continue prospering from and protecting the sea,” said Moore, who heads the expedition.
Tokelau is a non-self-governing territory of New Zealand with an estimated population of 2,700 and a gross domestic product of NZD2.4 million (US$1.37 million).
Its subsistence-based economy heavily reliant on fishing, agriculture, handicrafts, remittances and support from New Zealand.
Tokelau has a combined land area of roughly 12 square kilometers. Its ocean territory, spanning about 319,000 square kilometers, makes its exclusive economic zone over 25,000 times larger than its total land area.
In 2011, the territory declared its entire marine zone a shark sanctuary, demonstrating its profound commitment to ocean conservation.
The nation’s lagoons host giant clams with vivid neon-blue and green mantles, endangered green and hawksbill sea turtles, and blacktip reef sharks.
Its open ocean serves as a migratory corridor for whale sharks. And the enormous and endangered hump head wrasses still call the steep outer reef drop-offs home.
The team of local and international experts will live and work aboard Pristine Seas’ ship, the Argo, to gather information from the depths of the sea floor to the skies above.
Scientists will survey marine life while scuba diving, drop deep sea cameras to collect overnight footage, float video systems ten meters below the surface to document the marine life swimming by and assess bird life above the waves.
Strapped inside Pristine Seas’ state-of-the-art submersible, the Argonauta, expedition team members will plunge into the depths off Tokelau’s coast to observe first-hand the “twilight zone,” a frontier of deep-sea biodiversity teeming with marine life.
“The underwater realm surrounding Tokelau is virtually unexplored by scientists. Every dive, water sample and film clip brings us closer to documenting and understanding their marine environment,” said Molly Timmers, Pristine Seas’ research lead for the expedition to Tokelau.
Kevin Chand, senior director of Pacific Ocean Policy for Pristine Seas, said the expedition will wind up before the next global biodiversity conference, where the world will evaluate progress on the Global Biodiversity Framework….PACNEWS
PACNEWS BIZ
PAC – VISITOR ARRIVALS: PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Proposed visa-free entry for Filipino travelers projected to bring 25K new visitors to Guam
HAGATNA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES)—The proposed inclusion of the Philippines in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver programme is projected to bring 25,000 new visitors to Guam, resulting in roughly US$11 million in direct spending a year during the initial implementation, according to a Guam economist.
Roseann Jones, an economist at the University of Guam economist, said the figure was a conservative estimate and does not account for additional tax revenue or potential benefits from expanded air service.
She said visitor numbers could increase, as would the annual spending, which is projected to balloon to US$55 million over five years, as travelers become familiar with the programme and airlines respond to demand.
According to Guam Visitors Bureau, the island received 13,551 visitors from the Philippines in 2024.
The Philippines’ inclusion in the Guam-CNMI visa waiver programme is being proposed under H.R. 10341, the Marianas Tourism Advancement Act of 2026, recently introduced in Congress by CNMI Delegate Kimberlyn King-Hinds with Guam Delegate James Moylan.
The proposal, pushed by Guam Senator Jesse Lujan, comes as Guam and the CNMI continue efforts to strengthen tourism and diversify visitor markets, while officials simultaneously try to address federal concerns involving immigration enforcement, overstays and national security.
“This proposal is about short-term visits to Guam and the CNMI,” Lujan said at a press conference held Thursday at Guam International Airport. “It is not a work visa or a route to the rest of the United States. Let me repeat: This is not a work visa or a route to the rest of the United States.”
Besides the Philippines, the legislation would add India, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and Mongolia to the Guam-CNMI visa waiver programme, which allows eligible travelers to visit the U.S Pacific territories for up to 45 days without obtaining a U.S visa.
Proponents focus on the Philippines, pointing to Guam’s large Filipino community, proximity to the country and potential demand for family, sports and leisure travel.
King-Hinds said travelers admitted through the programme would be limited to stays of up to 45 days. She said the legislation does not currently impose a specific limit on how frequently an individual could visit, although repeated travel patterns that suggest misuse could draw scrutiny from federal authorities.
“If you are coming in under the visa waiver program and are showing patterns of abusing this program, whereby you’re entering Guam or the CNMI using the visa waiver programme, for example, flying in and then flying out to circumvent immigration laws, I think you’re going to get flagged,” King Hinds said.
Moylan said travelers would remain subject to federal screening, including electronic travel authorization and passport and law enforcement database checks.
“This legislation demonstrates that we can strengthen security while creating new opportunities for our people,” Moylan said.
The legislation grew partly from the Guam-CNMI-Philippines visa waiver Working Group, which brought government, tourism and economic officials together to examine traveler vetting, immigration enforcement, security and the economic implications of adding the Philippines.
Lujan said discussions with Philippine officials have included identity verification, information sharing and safeguards against overstays.
John Quinata, airport executive manager, said easier access could encourage airlines to expand beyond existing Manila service and consider routes from Cebu and Clark.
“We’re doing this, of course, because we want to get more air routes to the island,” Quinata said.
Philippine Tourism Undersecretary Stanley Ng, a former Philippine Airlines executive, said airlines need passenger traffic in both directions for routes to remain viable.
“For air connectivity to flourish, we really need both ways,” Ng said. “We have to co-promote each other and make this air connectivity sustainable.”
Senator Christopher Duenas said tourism’s importance extends beyond traditional visitor businesses and could affect airport development, aviation employment and other industries.
“When we talk about tourism, it’s not just about hotels, hotel rooms and the corridors here at the airport,” Duenas said. “It’s about businesses and it’s about families.”
The Philippines is particularly significant because of Guam’s demographic and family connections, supporters said.
Under the proposed system, eligible Philippine travelers would no longer need to complete the visa application process to visit Guam or the CNMI, although admission would remain subject to federal requirements.
Jones said reducing that barrier could make Guam more attractive for travelers deciding where to spend vacations or visit family.
“There’s a cost to the clearance of other visas, and there’s a drag in getting people who first say, ‘I want to come to Guam,’ and then the process that they have to go through in order to get here,” Jones said.
The economic stakes could be even greater in the CNMI, where tourism plays an especially large role and the economy does not have the same level of military-related activity seen on Guam.
Joe Guerrero, co-chair of the CNMI Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, said the legislation came at a crucial time. “The CNMI is challenged financially, government-wise, as well as in the private sector,” he said.
King-Hinds similarly framed the legislation as an attempt to give the islands more control over their economic development rather than relying primarily on federal assistance.
“We need tools, and I don’t think anybody who’s sitting in the CNMI or Guam is asking for a hand up,” King-Hinds said. “What we have been asking for are tools.”
The bill faces an uncertain timeline in Washington…..PACNEWS
PAC – TUNA INDUSTRY: FFA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Pacific priorities take centre stage at global tuna conference
BANGKOK, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FFA)—Government, industry and fisheries leaders from across the global tuna value chain have gathered in Bangkok for TUNA2026, a major international platform for shaping the future of tuna trade, investment and sustainability.
Against this global backdrop, Pacific leaders are using the conference to amplify the region’s priorities, including stronger coastal-State leadership, greater participation across the tuna value chain, and a fairer share of the economic benefits generated from Pacific fisheries resources.
Delivering special addresses during the opening ceremony of the 19th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition in Bangkok, Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jelta Wong, and Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries and Forests, Alitia Bainivalu, outlined their countries’ ambitions for sustainable and inclusive tuna development.
Minister Wong said the Pacific must move beyond supplying raw fisheries resources and take a more active role in harvesting, processing, logistics, marketing, innovation and trade.
“The time for dialogue has passed; we must now implement actionable strategies that ensure the sustainability of our marine resources and provide lasting benefits to our communities,” Minister Wong said.
He highlighted the East New Britain Initiative as a key regional pathway for capturing and retaining more of the value generated by Pacific tuna. Although the Pacific supplies more than half of the world’s tuna, only around 15 percent of the tuna caught in Pacific waters is currently processed within the region.
Minister Wong said the Initiative would promote collaboration among Pacific Island countries and support a network of tuna hubs and spokes, increasing value without adding pressure on tuna stocks.
He also highlighted PNG’s investments in fisheries surveillance, satellite technology, data-sharing, artificial intelligence and renewable energy solutions for the tuna supply chain. The Minister announced the establishment of Fisheries Capital Limited, PNG’s dedicated fisheries investment vehicle, and invited investors and development partners to explore opportunities in infrastructure, value-added processing, human capital development and commercially responsible fisheries ventures.
Minister Bainivalu placed transparency and trust at the centre of Fiji’s vision for the tuna industry. She highlighted Fiji’s recent signing of a national Memorandum of Understanding to implement the Fisheries Transparency Initiative standards, becoming the first Pacific Island country to make this commitment.
“The most valuable currency in the global tuna trade is not the sheer volume of the catch; it is absolute trust, uncompromising accountability, and the courage to govern our blue economies with integrity,” Minister Bainivalu said.
She outlined Fiji’s efforts to strengthen maritime surveillance, electronic monitoring, port inspections and fisheries legislation. These include the establishment of the Fiji National Offshore Fisheries Operations and Surveillance Centre and Fiji’s enforcement of the Port State Measures Agreement.
Minister Bainivalu stressed, however, that national action alone could not address challenges that cross maritime boundaries, particularly illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and the climate-driven movement of tuna stocks.
She called for the governance arrangements of Regional Fisheries Management Organisations to evolve and ensure conservation obligations are shared equitably among coastal states and fishing fleets.
“True synergy must guarantee equitable outcomes for the coastal states that steward these resources,” Minister Bainivalu said.
The two Ministers’ messages underscored a shared Pacific position: healthy tuna stocks must be matched by healthy Pacific economies. Both called for partnerships that support climate resilience, modern technology, sustainable market access, investment and greater Pacific ownership across the tuna value chain.
Conference participants in ensuing panel discussions reiterated the same message that sustainable tuna management must be matched by equitable development opportunities that deliver shared benefits for the entire value chain.
The 19th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition is being held in Bangkok from 14 – 16 September 2026 under the theme, Strengthening Value Chain Synergies, Blue Economies and Sustainability across the Global Tuna Industry…PACNEWS
AUST – DIPLOMACY/MINING: FIJI SUN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Fiji seeks Australian expertise on mining, land reforms
CANBERRA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—Fiji is drawing on Australian expertise as it develops major reforms to its mining sector and land laws, including a proposed Mineral Exploration and Exploitation Bill.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo led a Fiji delegation on an Australian Government-supported ministerial visit to Brisbane and Canberra from 14 to 18 September.
The delegation engaged Australian Government agencies and institutions on practical support for Fiji’s mining reforms, modernisation of land services and workforce development.
Fiji High Commissioner to Australia Ajay Amrit accompanied the delegation.
In Brisbane, the delegation held two days of meetings with stakeholders in mining, land administration and natural resources.
Discussions with BDO centred on Fiji’s proposed Mineral Exploration and Exploitation Bill, drawing on international and Pacific mining jurisdiction experience, with mineral ownership and customary interests flagged for further consultation.
Talks with the Queensland Government covered digital land records, geological mapping and coordination of major projects.
Trade and Investment Queensland explored training linked to recognised qualifications, possible TAFE engagement and opportunities in tourism investment, agricultural diversification and the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
The delegation also engaged the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation on community consultation and benefit-sharing models for resource development.
In Canberra, bilateral meetings were held with Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland and Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King, alongside a briefing from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also briefly met Mr Vosarogo during the Canberra programme.
The delegation toured Australian Parliament House, met Professor Peter Yu of the Australian National University and visited Geoscience Australia for technical exchanges on geological data systems.
Vosarogo said the engagements reflected the spirit of the Vuvale Partnership and would help translate Fiji’s reform agenda into practical outcomes.
“Fiji is building the legal and institutional foundations for a mining sector that works for our people and our future generations,” Minister Vosarogo said.
“This is the strength of the Vuvale Partnership in action, Australia standing with us as a true friend and neighbour as we undertake ambitious reforms, including our new Mineral Exploration and Exploitation Bill and the review of our land laws.
With Australia’s support and shared expertise, we are confident we will get this right for Fiji, and for the generations who will inherit the benefits of these reforms.”….PACNEWS
PAC – TOURISM INDUSTRY: PMN PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Record NZ travel puts Pacific tourism in strong position – SPTO
SUVA/WELLINGTON, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN)—Record numbers of New Zealand-resident travellers are returning from Pacific destinations with the Cook Islands and Tonga recording their highest totals yet.
Stats NZ figures show 118,000 New Zealand-resident traveller arrivals from the Cook Islands in the year to July, a record for any July year.
Tonga also reached a new high with 30,000 New Zealand-resident travellers returning over the same period.
The figures measure arrivals back into New Zealand rather than visitor arrivals into the Pacific, but they give an indication of the strength of travel between New Zealand and its Pacific neighbours.
Chris Cocker, Pacific Tourism Organisation Chief Executive, says New Zealand remains one of the region’s most important source markets, with family and cultural connections playing a major role.
“There’s a very strong VFR market, visiting friends and relatives, from the diaspora here in New Zealand,” Cocker tells Pacific Mornings.
He says New Zealand’s share of the Pacific tourism market has grown from about 22 per cent in 2019 to 25 per cent.
Australia remains the region’s largest source market at 36 per cent, followed by New Zealand and the United States at 15 per cent.
Cocker says some of the growth is also being driven by pent-up demand after Covid-19 while the Pacific remains an easier short-haul option as global events affect travel to other parts of the world.
“People see the Pacific as a safe option, given what’s happening around the world,” he says.
The latest monthly figures show that demand is continuing. In July, 14,300 New Zealand-resident travellers returned from the Cook Islands, a record for any month, while 9100 returned from Sāmoa, the highest number recorded for a July month.
Fiji accounted for nine percent of all New Zealand-resident traveller arrivals in July, behind Australia on 37 per cent.
But Cocker says strong demand is only part of the picture.
The region continues to face high travel costs, limited air links, workforce shortages and a lack of accommodation during peak periods.
“The Pacific is not very well connected, our main hub is still Fiji for entry into the Pacific,” he says.
“Sometimes during peak periods, there’s no accommodation for tourists, particularly during December when all the diaspora are travelling to some of our islands.”
He says more flights between New Zealand and Pacific destinations would help the region make the most of the growing demand.
That comes as international airfares in New Zealand continue to rise. Stats NZ reported a 4.3 per cent increase in international airfares in August, with prices up 21.5 per cent in the year to August.
Nicola Growden, Stats NZ prices and deflators spokesperson, says the monthly increase was driven mainly by higher fares to Europe and Asia.
Meanwhile, the wider New Zealand tourism market is recovering, with 256,600 overseas visitor arrivals recorded in July and 3.69 million in the year to July.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the results are a “positive step” towards the Government’s goal of doubling the value of tourism exports by 2034, “supporting businesses, jobs, and our local communities”.
Cocker says the challenge now is making sure airlines, accommodation, workers and other infrastructure can keep pace with the people wanting to travel.
New Zealand is already a major part of that demand, but the next challenge is making sure Pacific destinations have the connections and capacity to turn that interest into long-term tourism growth…..PACNEWS
TONGA – INFLATION: TALANOAOTONGA PACNEWS BIZ: Mon 21 Sep 2026
Tonga Inflation jumps to 12 percent as food and transport costs rise
NUKU’ALOFA, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TALANOAOTONGA)—Tonga’s annual inflation rate rose to 12.0 percent in August, with food, transport and housing costs among the main drivers of a renewed increase in prices.
The latest Consumer Price Index from the Tonga Statistics Department shows the overall CPI reached 145.7 in August, up from 130.2 a year earlier. Prices also increased 1.6 percent over the month from July.
The figures show local prices are rising faster than imported prices. Over the year to August, local goods increased by 14.3 percent, compared with a 9.4 percent rise in imported goods.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the largest contributor to annual inflation, rising 10.3 percent and adding 4.4 percentage points to the overall increase. Higher prices for locally produced vegetables, seafood and root crops, together with imported meat, were among the main factors.
Transport prices rose 22.3 percent, contributing 2.9 percentage points. The Statistics Department attributed the increase mainly to international airfares, parcel delivery and fuel prices.
Housing, water, electricity and gas recorded the highest annual increase at 26.8 percent, contributing 1.8 percentage points. Restaurants and hotels rose 13.7 percent, adding another 2.1 percentage points, with takeaway food including chicken and pizza among the items pushing prices higher.
The monthly figures show some relief in household energy costs, with the housing and utilities group falling 4.0 percent, mainly because of lower kerosene and LPG prices. This was outweighed by a 3.8 percent rise in food prices and a 4.3 percent increase in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and kava.
The latest increase puts inflation well above the National Reserve Bank of Tonga’s 5 percent reference rate.
The Reserve Bank said in August that elevated inflation was already placing pressure on household and business budgets….PACNEWS
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
The Pacific Ocean of Peace, an idea whose time has not come
The main idea behind ‘Ocean of Peace’ is that the Pacific region can opt out of so-called ‘great power rivalry’ and avoid much of the unpleasantness that afflicts the rest of the globe.
By Grant Newsham
WASHINGTON, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE GUARDIAN) —“Ocean of Peace”—an expression being bandied about by a handful of Pacific Island leaders—brings to mind the title of an early 1960s musical, “Stop the World, I Want to Get Off.”
The main idea behind “Ocean of Peace” is that the Pacific region can opt out of so-called “great power rivalry” and avoid much of the unpleasantness that afflicts the rest of the globe. Some commentators call for a regional security agreement to keep order.
Good luck with that.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka apparently coined “Ocean of Peace” in 2023, and Pacific Island leaders then adopted it at their annual Pacific Island Forum (PIF) meeting in 2025 in Solomon Islands.
However, the phrase is more something you’d see on a car bumper sticker. How it translates into a widely accepted security framework either locally or globally is unclear.
The Pacific Ocean is a big place with very different peoples and nations, each with sovereign interests. The region has never been exceptionally peaceful—including among Pacific islanders. Just ask the Fijians about the Tongans.
More recently, there was an inability to reach even diplomatic agreement on a Pacific Island Forum (PIF) statement condemning a Chinese missile test in the region.
Surely at a minimum an “Ocean of Peace” could agree this is bad? The most Pacific leaders (six of whom did not, or could not, show up at the PIF in Palau in late August) could manage was an expression of “concern” with no mention of China. Nauru opposed the entire statement and Kiribati avoided the meeting where the matter was discussed.
Both are under Beijing’s thumb.
GREAT POWER RIVALRY?
Being under pressure from Beijing is different from the usual “great power rivalry” framing in which China and the United States use the Pacific to carry out their rivalry—via military deployments, infrastructure, policing arrangements, and access agreements.
In this framing, the rivalry spills over into coercion or instability among otherwise uninvolved Pacific Island states.
However, this gives the impression that China and U.S. are the only two major actors and that there is some equivalency.
One is hard-pressed to name a recent example of American coercion of anybody in the region, or of US-caused instability.
Rather, China’s attempts to do in the Pacific region what the Japanese did in the 1920s and 1930s (but without any of the positive aspects) and create vassal states, are the major sources of coercion and instability in the Pacific today.
Just one example, recall China’s repeated use of “tourism” as a weapon to collapse the Palau economy and coerce the government of Palau. Additionally, its efforts to interfere with the recent PIF meeting in Palau extended to personally threatening Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr and close family if they did not follow Beijing’s dictates regarding Taiwan’s participation in the PIF.
Another huge source of instability and societal destruction throughout the region is Chinese organized crime and corruption (including flooding the region with drugs) that is part and parcel of the Chinese Communist Party’s modus operandi for gaining influence. As is the “elite capture” Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale spoke about recently.
For more, read then-FSM President David Panuelo’s public letters detailing Chinese coercion and subversion in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and you’ll have a point-by-point indictment of the PRC and its efforts to dominate, disintegrate and destroy a nation’s consensual government and sovereignty.
The 2025 Annual Report of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission’s section on the Pacific Islands gives myriad more examples of unilateral unrestricted warfare attacks by the PRC.
The attacks are pervasive and evident across society, economics and politics in the Pacific. As another example, Chinese attempts to subvert Pacific media are well documented in a 2026 Centre for Naval Analysis (CNA) report.
This is not “rivalry”. This is an attack by one nation against the democratic, economic and social institutions of many others across the region.
RETAINING AGENCY
One also hears complaints that Pacific Island nations are losing “agency” and unable to set limits on foreign military activity—that, it is argued—makes them pawns in the putative great power rivalry.
Besides the fact expanding Chinese military activities in the region are seldom mentioned, this is an implicit charge that the United States and “the West” are dominating national sovereignty and causing trouble. And if the Americans in particular would just pare down their activities, or even better leave, and stop threatening everyone by their very presence we’d have “peace.”
Central American Marxists and European Leftists in the 1980s used a variation of this argument too.
However, the Pacific Island countries need some military capability—even if all other militaries magically disappeared. That’s the reality. Otherwise, for example, their fish stocks will be plundered and transnational organized crime will set up drug transshipment points on their islands. Do you want the Chinese Coast Guard protecting your fish stocks from illegal Chinese fishing fleets?
Pacific Islands citizens and leaders are already quite capable of choosing who they want to deal with to provide defence and military support if they don’t want to create their own capabilities.
They have plenty of agency, and if you read the Compact of Free Association (COFA) agreements between Republic of Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau and the United States, they also have the right to shape (and deny) local activities of the US military. The same goes with nations where the Australians operate—even if there’s no formal agreement.
It’s essential to distinguish between the US (and Australia and New Zealand) and China. The former are consensual democracies with a general respect for law, human rights, and individual liberty.
China? It’s a genocidal, totalitarian, expansionist, atheist regime. Pacific Islanders can tell the difference—even if certain corrupt leaders cannot.
Ultimately “Ocean of Peace” sounds like a nice idea and allows moral preening—sort of how Japanese used to declare themselves “pacifists” while expecting the Americans to exterminate anyone threatening Japan. And it also improves prospects for squeezing money out of foreign donors for any number of think-tank studies and seminars, while those closer to China stall actions that might defend against Beijing’s aggression.
Meanwhile, it’s not going to protect anyone in the Pacific from the immediate problems of drugs, organized crime and illegal fishing. Nor will it protect from what’s coming—as demonstrated by the recent Chinese missile test into the heart of the “Ocean of Peace” and the PLA Navy flotilla flexing its muscles around Australia and New Zealand last year.
Pacific nations will need to defend themselves, either alone or with their friends. And they can decide who their friends are….PACNEWS
Grant Newsham is a retired U.S. Marine officer and former U.S diplomat. He was the first Marine liaison officer to the Japan Self Defence Force, and is a fellow at the Centre for Security Policy and the Yorktown Institute. He is the author of the book, “When China Attacks: A Warning To America.”
The views expressed in PACNEWS are those of agencies contributing articles and do not necessarily those of PINA and/or PACNEWS
What’s wrong with U.S Pacific Islands Policy?
By Cleo Paskal
WASHINGTON, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE DIPLOMAT)—There is currently an active debate about U.S policy in the Pacific Islands. Some are saying the U.S is AWOL in the region. Others have said this is one of the most active times for U.S engagement, including the Heritage Foundation, which just published a detailed “policy inventory” of announced U.S activities in the region.
What do I think? Let me start in a Pacific Islands way, with a story.
In May 2025, I took a China-donated cargo ship from Yap to Woleai atoll, in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Several hundred Micronesians (from babies to grandmothers), five Chinese construction workers, and I slept on the deck, used communal bathrooms, and ate the food we brought along for the days-long trip down the island chain.
By the time I got back to Yap weeks later, I had lice, parasites, and a leg wound that took U.S military-grade salve to heal. I also had friends for life.
Onboard the China-donated ship that is the only regular transport along the Yap island chain. Families eat and sleep on deck for up to weeks at a time. Photo by Cleo Paskal.
Why did I go? The U.S Department of Defence (DoD) had announced around US$2 billion in infrastructure investments on the main island of Yap State, an island also called Yap. Meanwhile, I had heard from Micronesian friends that the Chinese were working on something in Woleai, in a different part of Yap State.
There was also a Dolly Parton angle – but that’s for later.
People in DoD assured me (and their superiors) that everything was fine. Knowing how the U.S government operates in other parts of the Pacific, I wondered if they had the full picture. So, I packed a bag full of tins of Chef Boyardee, bottles of water, and Dramamine and went to take a look.
Soon after I arrived on Woleai, the president of FSM, Wesley Simina, arrived on his own boat. After the traditional beach greeting, he and his entourage disappeared on one of the island’s few pick-up trucks. His wife rode on the truck’s bed.
Local kids told me he had gone to the groundbreaking for the runway. The runway? I wanted to see, so they led me on a dash through a shortcut in the jungle, past overgrown machinery left behind from the years Woleai spent under the control of Imperial Japan.
Then the woods opened up, exposing the cracked runway first built by the Japanese, rows of Chinese heavy machinery, and a stage announcing the imminent groundbreaking.
While the president’s official schedule may have said he came to Woleai for the high school graduation, it wasn’t a coincidence that he was also on the island when a Chinese state-owned company began work to rebuild an Imperial Japanese runway just over 640 kilometers from Guam.
Based on reactions, key people in the U.S government were caught by surprise. Their “Micronesia whisperers” had failed them.
A few days later, on a School of War podcast – an interview I conducted via Starlink, while I was a ten-minute walk from the Chinese workers’ barracks on Woleai – I commented the United States wasn’t listening to the right people, and there were going to be problems moving forward with the $2 billion investment in infrastructure in Yap, unless something changed.
Nothing changed.
On 29 June 2026, just over a year later, Admiral Samuel Paparo, the commander of U.S Pacific Command (PACOM), wrote to FSM’s President Simina that, due to a breakdown in the negotiations, “U.S PACOM intends to move forward by assessing alternative locations across the region to meet the needs of Pacific defence.”
That may just be a negotiation tactic. But the fact the situation has deteriorated to the point that a threat was deemed necessary is one indication that, in spite of the serious attempt by the Trump administration to work more – and better – with the Pacific Islands, it is not necessarily achieving the desired outcomes.
They should have asked Dolly Parton, the late country star and all-around American icon, for advice.
Dolly Parton, Habele, and More Untapped Wisdom
While on Woleai, I took an hour-long outboard motor boat trip to an island across the lagoon for an elementary school graduation. I had heard that Parton’s Imagination Library delivers free books to kids out there. It does, which was how I met Tasur.
Think about the social, political, bureaucratic and practical logistics involved in getting “The Little Engine That Could” from the U.S state of Tennessee, where the Imagination Library is headquartered, into the hands of Tasur on Woleai. Someone helping Parton’s non-profit knows Yap well enough to do not just that, but to ensure hundreds of kids across Yap get a free book every month from Tennessee.
That “someone” is Neil Mellen and the team at Habele, an educational NGO that, for years, has provided not just free books, but scholarships and more to kids across FSM. Founded and funded by former Peace Corps volunteers and other Americans, its sister organisation, Habele Research Institute, runs a comprehensive Wiki on Yap, which includes one of the largest online collections of historical material on the region.
If those involved in negotiating the U.S military’s runway and port development didn’t read the Habele page on the topic – and then ask to talk to the people who put it together – they might want to consider another line of work. I’m pretty sure they didn’t.
I do know they didn’t spend time talking to Father Francis X. Hezel – I asked him. Father Fran, as he’s called, now lives in Guam. He has been in region since the early 1960s and literally wrote the book(s) on Micronesia. U.S policymakers used to go out of their way to meet with him regularly.
Not anymore, even though PACOM’s Joint Task Force – Micronesia is also based in Guam.
Father Fran, an American Jesuit, set up Micronesia Seminar Library, a physical, comprehensive collection of books, video, articles, periodical, photos, and more covering the sweep of Micronesian history, culture, politics, etc.
Father Rich McAuliff, another American Jesuit, has also been in Micronesia for years, and is on Yap taking care of the Library.
Given the changes to the local economy that US$2 billion in investment might bring – Yap Island has a population of around 7,000 – it would also be helpful to talk to Americans in the business community, like Mark Hartman, about complexities around access to financing, human resources, logistics, land rights, the regulatory environment, etc. Hartman wrote a brief for Habele to try to inform the U.S-Pacific Investment Summit. It is, as he says, the basics, but even that is usually overlooked.
The DoD negotiators (and any others, including from the State Department, Interior Department, etc.) also would benefit from extensive conversations with the fine folks at Pacific Mission Aviation (PMA), a missionary airline that has been proving free medical evacuations, search and rescues, and more in Yap for over 50 years.
PMA pilots, almost all American, are the only ones regularly using the Woleai airfield. They know every runway, rock, and reef in the region. Almost every family in Yap has a story about good done by the PMA. At the Ulithi high school graduation last year, Simina, the FSM president, was the opening act; it was Amos Collins, a PMA pilot, who gave the keynote.
As Brock Welge, the PMA’s director of maintenance, said in a recent interview: “Probably the biggest misconception people have is how long it takes to build relationships out here… I’ve been out here since 2019 and I’m just now starting to feel accepted and integrated into the community. Which is amazing – but it takes a long time to build those relationships, sometimes lifetimes.”
It’s the Relationships, Stupid
Yes, the U.S government is paying much more attention to the Pacific Islands region than it has in years. There is also a desire for a new approach, which is needed. That new attention and new money is attracting new “experts.” There are myriad reports being commissioned by various parts of the U.S. government on how to understand the region, and what to do about it.
Few of these reports are written by people who have lived and worked in the region (or in some cases even visited), or who have spoken directly with Americans on the ground. For those “reporting on” Yap, the smartest of them will steal liberally from Habele Institute – if they (or their AI) can find it. That will ensure their contracts are renewed, but won’t help keep Habele and its relationships going.
I used the example of Yap and the wide range of Americans to learn from – note that I haven’t even started with the locals, another obvious point of engagement – because this should be one of the locations with the most focus. Yap is the site of the potential US$2 billion investment, with close to US$1.4 billion of that location-specified by the National Defence Authorisation Act. And yet there is no permanent U.S government presence in Yap, outreach to Americans on the ground is limited, there is little effective attempt to develop understanding and trust with locals. This can’t be done by AI. The same applies to other locations across the region.
There are some attempts to have “presence.” For example, the Army’s Oceania Engagement Team has two people on Yap, though there have been frequent personnel changes to the team. However, unlike in some other locations, the deployment has not resulted in building meaningful relationships. Especially given the lack of comparative streams of knowledge, this particular presence may give a false sense of understanding about Yap.
That gets to the heart of the problem. And it’s why, unlike the usual pieces about the area that focus on geography, this article is about people. Any successful U.S policy in the region needs to be about relationships, and trust.
And this isn’t a benign environment.
That Chinese state-owned company that rebuilt the Imperial Japanese runway on Woleai? It’s now rebuilding a bridge on the main island of Yap, and is working on secondary roads. Its people are settling in for the long run, establishing their own relationship networks, ones designed to cut off ties to the United States and other democracies.
It’s not an accident a Chinese operator tried to take over the PMA’s routes from Yap to Palau. Washington may not have identified who is important in providing human security in Yap, but Beijing has. And they are working to undermine the Americans doing just that.
While the new money, approach, and attention from Washington are promising, and needed, we’ll know things have really changed when someone from the U.S government rides on that transport ship through the outer islands of Yap – alongside locals, at least some of whom will likely be U.S. military veterans – and starts to see for themselves what’s really going on.
That may not happen, because the U.S embassy has likely heard just enough to know that the ship isn’t safe. Someone thousands of miles away may even be writing a report on it. But if Washington wants to know why, left on their own, the FSM and Yap governments won’t replace it with something seaworthy, how China fits in, and what Japan can do to help, they’ll need to talk to a new set of people.
In the meantime, just like much in the rest of the region, that ship will sail on, shrouded by a cloud of potential, imminent disaster that could easily be blown away by asking the right people the right questions….PACNEWS
