Uludong denies claims on Palau media deal
The publisher of Palau’s Tia Belau newspaper has vehemently denied that a deal with Chinese investors was an “espionage plan… to take over Palau and the rest of the Pacific.” Responding to an article by the
Security
U.S. proposes military training for young civilians in Pacific island countries
Washington is proposing to provide military training to young civilians in Pacific island countries amid growing geopolitical tension in the region. Developing “young civilian defence leaders” in the Pacific islands
Opinion: Geopolitical competition and Solomon Islands: navigating the middle ground
Geopolitical competition can have adverse impact on third-party countries. We are seeing this in Solomon Islands, where domestic political discourses – at least in Honiara and on social media – are dominated by the
Congress prodded to finalise Compact package for freely associated states
Defence officials and territorial delegates have pressed both houses of Congress to tie up the proposed new economic packages under the Compacts of Free Association, noting the freely associated states’ critical role
U.S.-China competition: Blinken heading to NZ, Tonga, Australia
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit the Pacific this week – his third foray to the region – to discuss security co-operation with New Zealand and Australia. The State Department said Blinken
Failed Palau Media Deal reveals inner workings of China’s Pacific influence effort
For years, Moses Uludong has been a lonely voice pushing the small, strategically located Pacific island nation of Palau towards closer relations with China, says the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project
Solomon Islands, Vanuatu consider forming militaries
Pacific Islands nations, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are considering forming defence forces and have discussed the matter with Australia, Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday. Security partnerships in the
Palau president says U.S. ‘reactivating’ WWII airstrips in country
The president of Palau said the U.S. military is “reactivating” Palauan airstrips built by the Japanese during World War II, after being asked at a speaking event on Monday if America would have full access to his
RAAF team delivers critical training in Fiji
In a demonstration of dedication and flexibility, a team of instructors from the Royal Australian Air Force School of Administration and Logistics Training (RAAFSALT) was deployed to Fiji to deliver critical training to
Opinion: Pacific treaties must be built with care and nurtured once they’re in place
Security agreements are an increasingly hot topic in the Pacific as Australia, the U.S, China and New Zealand seek broad arrangements across the region. Melanesian countries have attracted the most attention; over the
Australia appoints first special envoy for the Pacific
A new special envoy role will help Australia strengthen its already strong bond with the Pacific, the federal government says. Ewen McDonald, a senior foreign affairs department official, will take on the inaugural role
Australia to provide funding support for Solomon Islands election
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare had a bilateral meeting with the Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles Wednesday. The Australian DPM used the official engagement to
France not seeking to ‘fuel competition’ in region
France’s Ambassador for the Indo-Pacific says the Indo-Pacific Strategy should not fuel further strategic competition in the region. During a recent visit to Fiji, Ambassador Marc Abensour said while there is great
PNG Marape details Defence pact with U.S.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape defended in Parliament last week that the PNG and the U.S. Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) will help develop and maintain several agreed facilities in Port Moresby, Lae
U.S. military granted unimpeded access to key PNG defence facilities in new security agreement
The United States military has been given “unimpeded access” to key PNG defence facilities, including the joint PNG-Australia Lombrum Naval Base on Manus Island, as part of a sweeping Defence Cooperation
Solomon Islands and Fiji to enter bilateral security agreement
Solomon Islands will soon engage in a bilateral security agreement with the Republic of Fiji as part of efforts to fill the gaps in its security space. The Framework would allow the country to broaden and enhance its
Severe shortage of PNG health workers
An acute shortage of health professionals in hospitals around Papua New Guinea has prompted the Special Parliamentary Committee on Health Matters to propose an amendment to a law that prevents public servants who
Japan, Australia, U.S to fund undersea cable connection in Micronesia to counter China’s influence
Japan announced Tuesday that it joined the United States and Australia in signing a US$95 million undersea cable project that will connect East Micronesia island nations to improve networks in the Indo-Pacific region
PNG delays bilateral security pact with Australia over sovereignity concerns
A proposed bilateral security treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been delayed due to Port Moresby's fears the proposed wording encroached on the nation's
Another Chinese research vessel disrespects Palau laws
Another Chinese research vessel, HAIYANG DIZHI LIUHAO entered Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone without permission or notification to the Palau government on 24 May 2023, at around 1:20 pm, disrespecting Palau’s laws
Blinken: U.S. aware of Pacific needs
The United States is aware of the needs of its development partners in the Pacific and will set up embassies in all island nations, says secretary of state Antony Blinken. “Work is being done to ensure that the U.S.
“We are victims of global power play” – PNG PM says Pacific islands will rally behind India
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape on Monday told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the Pacific Islands nations consider the Indian premier as the leader of the Global South and will rally behind India’s
India’s PM Modi lands in PNG for Pacific summit
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Papua New Guinea on Sunday for talks with Pacific island leaders, the first visit by an Indian premier as New Delhi seeks to counter China’s growing footprint in the