Pacific leaders confront widening regional pressures in Palau
SHIFTING geopolitics, economic uncertainty and transnational threats will frame discussions when Pacific leaders meet here in Palau for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders
Geopolitics
Forum struggles with missile dilemma
AS they gather in Palau this week for the 55th Pacific Islands Forum, regional leaders want development partners to focus on their Blue Pacific agenda on climate, oceans and human
PACNEWS THREE, Friday 28 August 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Forum SG Waqa urges regional media to put Pacific voices at the centre2. PACIFIC — Pacific Leaders face longer agenda as geopolitical pressures mount3. PACIFIC — Pacific
Kiwi ready to face the dragon
NEW Zealand had long been considered the weakest link in Five Eyes and the easiest for China to try to cow. But New Zealand has now called out China by name in its intelligence warnings so often that officials joke it
Taipei protests as PNG orders Taiwan office shut
PAPUA New Guinea has ordered the immediate closure of Taiwan’s Economic Office in a move which strengthened Port Moresby’s alignment with Beijing and drew a sharp protest from Taipei.
PACNEWS TWO, 13 JULY 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Pacific Civil Society condemns China ICBM test, urges leaders to reject all military build-up2. AUST — China officials warned over ‘provocative’ missile test3.
PACNEWS ONE, 08 JULY 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Forum Chair Wale protests China’s missile test in the Pacific2. PACIFIC — PNG PM Maape calls on global superpowers to halt missile tests after Chinese launch3. AUST
PACNEWS THREE 07 JULY 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Pacific Elders warn against external influence in regional security2. SOL — Australia chases next Pacific treaty after Fiji win3. PACIFIC — Nuclear-capable missile fired
PACNEWS TWO 07 JULY 2026
In this bulletin: 1. FIJI — PM Rabuka says Fiji’s sovereignty secure under historic Australia alliance2. PACIFIC — China tests long-range missile in South Pacific in move Australia condemns as
PACNEWS ONE, 06 JULY 2026
In this bulletin: 1. PACIFIC — Australian PM Albanese touches down in Fiji ahead of new Pacific deal2. PACIFIC — PM Wale urges Indonesia to pursue dialogue and reduce tensions in West Papua3. PACIFIC —
Pacific security race heats up as Australia and China court Vanuatu
CHINA has pushed back against Australia’s new security pact with Vanuatu, warning that bilateral agreements in the Pacific should not be aimed at third countries.
ASEAN can manage a typhoon – a Taiwan contingency is another matter
THE ability of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to respond to crises has become a new focus as the region faces a growing set of geopolitical risks: maritime disputes in the South China Sea, Taiwan
China pushes Pacific presence
CHINA has started to increase its Pacific presence using a two-pronged approach – subtle and openly obvious.Last week, Vice-Governor
PIFS leans on ASEAN model as it retools for a changing region
PACIFIC Islands Forum (PIFS) leaders are trying to redesign the region’s political and security machinery to better protect unity,
The Quad meets, Fiji waits outside
FROM Berlin to Delhi, powerful nations still decide Pacific futures without Pacific voices in the room.
Change is coming – Wale’s promises to Solomon Islands
SOLOMON Islands' new Prime Minister, Matthew Cooper Wale, has promised the country that "change is
Region explores military response group
WITH a growing drug threat, extremely porous borders and mounting global tensions regional leaders have
Pacific’s fight against hybrid threats amid climate change challenges
HYBRID threats intertwined with climate change impacts are reshaping the Pacific security landscape, requiring
Tokyo, Jakarta building faster than they think
JAPAN has been Indonesia’s largest aid donor for decades. Tokyo has built Jakarta’s MRT system, financed Patimban port, and
Pacific tourism urged to sell safety amid global uncertainty
THE Pacific is being urged to position itself as a “safe haven” for global travellers amid geopolitical tensions reshaping tourism
We Say: Have we sold out?
JUST weeks ago, United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau flew out of the Pacific after signing deals and
Iran conflict drags on, concerns rise
THE ongoing conflict in the Gulf region is creating significant global economic uncertainty, raising concerns
