Australia to order military build-up in response to China’s growing power
The Australian military will be rapidly transformed to prepare for a possible conflict between China and the United States. An unclassified version of a major defense review published Monday recommends that Australia
China practices attacking Taiwan and Pacific, a worrying development
China’s newest aircraft carrier has for the first time practiced attacking Taiwan from the island’s east coast, demonstrating Beijing’s growing determination to project power beyond the Taiwan Strait and far into
Opinion: China-here, there and everywhere
The end of the compact negotiations between Ambassador Joseph Yun and the freely associated states is only 50% of the struggle to completion. The remainder is in the U.S Congress and dealing with the proposed
Outgoing FSM president urged to reconsider diplomatic shift to Taiwan
Seeking to retain the status quo on the Federated States Micronesia’s (FSM) diplomatic relations with China, the FSM Congress weighed in on a resolution urging outgoing President David Panuelo to suspend his plan to
Solomon Islands: Suidani disqualified for not recognising One China policy
Solomon Islands Minister of Provincial Government and Institutional Strengthening Rollen Seleso has disqualified former Malaita Premier Daniel Suidani from the Malaita Provincial Assembly in accordance with section
Taiwan gets back ‘Republic of China’ office name from Fiji
Taiwan’s government expressed its gratitude to Fiji on Tuesday for reinstating the old name of its representative office there, which includes the “Republic of China (ROC)” — Taiwan’s official
China vows Pacific Games projects will be ready in August
China’s Ambassador to the Solomon Islands Li Ming has insisted infrastructure projects for this year’s Pacific Games in the capital Honiara will be completed in August. Approximately SBD$1.85 billion (£184
China firm wins Solomon Islands port project
The Solomon Islands has awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to a Chinese state company to upgrade an international port in Honiara in a project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), an official of the island
Solomons to send 80 athletes to China for Pacific Games training
Dozens of athletes from the Solomon Islands will train in China for three months to sharpen their competitiveness for the Pacific Games in November, underlining the intention of both countries to make the sporting event
Senior U.S. official underscores Solomons-China concerns
A senior White House official on Sunday underlined U.S. concerns about China’s close ties with the Solomon Islands as he began a weeklong tour of Pacific island countries. Kurt Campbell, the U.S. National Security
South Pacific eyes China trade deal
China and a group of South Pacific island countries could start talks this year toward their first formal trade agreement, according to an official from a regional network of nations. But while such talks could
MSG Secretariat looks to China
The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat is considering engaging China for cooperation on security, its secretariat says. Following a meeting between the Chinese Special Envoy to the Pacific, Qian Bo and the
Marape: Chinese stability ensures global economy has a stable outlook
Beijing’s newly appointed special envoy to the Pacific has underlined China’s investment in infrastructure during his first official trip to the region, as Australia and the United States step up efforts to keep
Countering China’s Pacific Ambitions
Like empires past, Xi Jinping’s China seeks three grand prizes in the Pacific: wealth, control and presence. Australia and other Pacific nations have recognised the nature and scope of this neocolonial ambition and
Whipps responds to concerns over Chinese interests
Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr has responded to an investigative report that has revealed activity in Palau by “organised criminals with links to the Chinese Communist Party”, by stating that there is
Chinese aid to the Pacific: decreasing, but not disappearing
Chinese engagement in the Pacific regularly hit the headlines in 2022, sometimes with dire warnings. The recent China–Solomon Islands security agreement sent shock waves across the region. Concern reached new highs
Pacific gambit: Inside the Chinese Communist Party and Triad push into Palau
Palau is a key hotspot in the growing rivalry between China and the West. Organised criminals with links to the Chinese Communist Party are trying to find a way in — and many in the local elite have welcomed them,
‘More smoke than fire’: China’s Pacific aid falls short of pledges
Beijing’s development spending has fallen despite efforts to build influence in the region. In 2017, Papua New Guinea’s government announced a long-awaited AUD$4.1bn (US$2.6bn) upgrade of the nation’s potholed
U.S., Japan back Australia’s Digicel Pacific purchase
The U.S. and Japan have announced they will back the Australian government’s unprecedented move to fund Telstra’s purchase of the Pacific’s largest telco, stumping up around $150 million (US$100
U.S. warns China: Attack on Guam ‘will be met with appropriate response’
Declaring China as the United States’ “most consequential strategic competitor” in the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon warned the communist regime of the consequences should it launch any aggression on Guam.
Real partnership with Solomon Islands must be based on truth
Last week, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Australia’s Anthony Albanese met in Canberra for the first time, less than a month after Australia offered to fund Solomon Islands’ elections to avoid
Solomons ‘vilified’ since recognising China: Sogavare
The prime minister of the Solomon Islands complained on Friday that his country had been subjected to “a barrage of unwarranted and misplaced criticisms, misinformation and intimidation” since formalising
Exercise Cartwheel: Largest Pacific military exercise in decades
A military exercise in Fiji involving the United States, Britain, Australia and New Zealand ends this week as the traditional allies counter China’s growing influence in the region. The 11-day Exercise Cartwheel in
