German Embassy hosts evening of classical music
“MUSIC is more than entertainment; it is a bridge that connects hearts, cultures, and communities,” said German Ambassador Dr Andreas Prothmann as guests were welcomed to an evening of classical
Diplomacy
Tuvalu’s Teo tours Taiwan
TUVALU Prime Minister Feleti Teo arrived in Taiwan this week to meet President William Lai for discussions on matters of mutual
Whispers
SOME Pacific nations have birds that do not fly. And there are those birds that, because they could not fly, eventually fell prey to
Indonesia deepens Pacific ties through cultural synergy
INDONESIA has stepped up its soft diplomacy efforts in the region, through a meeting of artists, cultural practitioners, and communities in a cultural advancement
Indonesia-Pacific Cultural Synergy 2025 previewed in Fiji
THE Indonesian Embassy in Fiji, in collaboration with the Fiji Arts Council, hosted a special cultural reception to preview the upcoming Indonesia-Pacific Cultural Synergy (IPACs) 2025, set to take place in Indonesia
A Decade of Ambition: The Pacific’s Climate Reality Ahead of COP30
Ten years ago, the collective voice of the Pacific Islands helped embed the 1.5°C warming limit in the Paris Agreement – a scientifically grounded survival line. As the world turns
Germany marks reunification, strengthens Pacific partnerships
GERMANY has committed itself to strengthening ties within the
Taiwan–Fiji partnership bears fruit across key sectors
CONTINUED strengthening of partnerships between Taiwan and Fiji have had a positive impact on local
Confronting geopolitics in Pacific regional diplomacy
In the past two years, concerns about strategic competition and the increasingly uncertain and unpredictable global order have started to take a more central place in the foreign policy and security discourses of the
New Zealand’s strange diplomatic stoush with Kiribati
The squabbles between New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters and heads of government in Kiribati and the Cook Islands have been denounced by some as neo-colonial grandstanding but welcomed by others as
Winston Peters regrets publicity surrounding cancelled Kiribati visit
New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister regrets the publicity surrounding his cancelled diplomatic meeting in Kiribati but insists they made strong efforts to ensure it took place. Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign
Outgoing Forum Chair Mark Brown reflects on challenging times
“We’ve been mindful that our region is of great interest from a geopolitical perspective over the last few years or so,” says Prime Minister of Cook Islands Mark Brown. “But the security issues that are seen by
Taiwan condemns Nauru for accepting One China principle
Taiwan has criticised Nauru for accepting China’s “One China” principle on Wednesday. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said it expressed “deep regret and strong condemnation” after Nauru and
Taiwan affirms close relations with Tuvalu
Taiwan maintains deep ties with Tuvalu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said, amid reports the Pacific Island nation may switch recognition to Beijing. Tuvalu Ambassador to Taiwan, Bikenibeu Paeniu recently told
U.S. Senate Bill to establish embassies in the Pacific
A bipartisan group of senators will introduce legislation to establish three new embassies in the Pacific Islands region to strengthen America’s relationships there and counter China’s growing influence. The
COP26 at the micro level
(Pacific climate talanoa) By the beginning of the second week of September, the informal Pacific Regional Talanoa Group (PRTG), of which I am a member, was suitably enthused to start its virtual talanoa series on the
Culture new strategy at heart of EU ties
THE strategy adopted today is in line with the Europen Union Commission’s priority to make the EU a stronger global actor. Culture can play a crucial role in strengthening international partnerships. The
US reserves comment on arms deal
RUSSIA’S arms deal with Fiji, breakdown in US fish treaty negotiations, ban of Facebook in Nauru, leaking of confidential embassy cables and growing Chinese influence in the region were the key issues of
A catastrophic failure of ambition
AT the 1997 Forum leaders’ meeting in Rarotonga, Australian Prime Minister John Howard blocked a regional consensus on climate policy. Forum leaders were hoping for a strong, common position to take to Japan that