Canberra

January 27, 2025 | Cleo Paskal |

Who’s afraid of China? Palau inauguration calls bluff of ‘friends to all, enemies to none’

For all the regional talk of “Pacific family” and “friends to all enemies to none” who did – and who didn’t – show up for the Jan. 16 inauguration of Palau President Surangel S. Whipps Jr....

May 13, 2024 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

How China is Winning the Solomon Islands

Since 2019, Beijing has spent a considerable amount of money and effort setting up its position in the Solomon Islands and openly assisting in the crushing of dissent.

April 16, 2024 | David May |

Australia Shows That Hamas’ Terrorism Pays

Terrorism pays. That is the message Australia’s government is sending by considering recognizing a Palestinian state in the wake of Hamas’ October 7 attack...

April 16, 2024 | |

UK Fails to Designate IRGC as Terror Group Despite Iranian Attack on Israel

The British government is resisting a campaign by key UK politicians to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. UK Prime Minister...

April 14, 2024 | Cleo Paskal |

PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election

PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans.

April 5, 2024 | |

Two IDF Officers Dismissed Over Aid Convoy Tragedy

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on April 5 the dismissal of two officers and the disciplining of others over an accidental air strike on a Gaza aid convoy. Publishing...

February 7, 2024 | Richard Goldberg |

Close Down UNRWA

Western nations must not continue to contribute to a UN agency that is effectively controlled by a terrorist organization.

November 12, 2023 | Cleo Paskal, Col. Grant Newsham

Australia: Neo-imperialist or climate change saviour?

Australia gets a remarkable set of rights from the Pacific island country of Tuvalu in exchange for things it can mostly find a reason to not do if it wants.

September 21, 2023 | Michael R. Pompeo, Aaron MacLean

Why it’s important to continue our support for Ukraine

Russian victory in Ukraine would give comfort and confidence to those who hate America

August 23, 2023 | David May, Natalie Ecanow

Australian Government Bows to Far-Left Pressure on Israel

Earlier this month, Australia upended nearly a decade of precedent when the government announced that it will start referring to the West Bank, eastern Jerusalem, and Gaza as “occupied Palestinian territories”...

August 6, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

The complicated case of Nauru, which stood up to China

Some of Nauru’s decisions made on principle, for example recognizing Taiwan, likely hurt Nauru’s economy. Nauru doesn’t just recognize Taiwan, it has stood up to China in diplomatic venues in ways some Western diplomats could only dream about.

February 26, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

Win for China in its plan to turn Pacific Islands into Hong Kong

Leaders who are standing up to China are deeply shaken by what happened to Suidani and the resounding quiet from the international community that claims to back democracy. Koror, Palau: If you thought...

February 11, 2023 | Cleo Paskal |

No one is helping us in our fight against PRC: Daniel Suidani

I believe that there are people in other countries who believe in democracy—who would stand with us, says Malaita’s ousted Premier Daniel Suidani.

December 31, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

From G-20 to the Pacific Islands, India offers new hope

One of the most important external examples of the potential for India’s realignment of global leadership will be PM Modi’s ground-breaking trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG), reported to take place in the first half of 2023.

October 2, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

US moves on Pacific islands, but barely

The last two weeks have seen some of the most frantic US activity related to the Pacific Islands since the end of World War II. A lot happened. It’s like a plane suddenly dropped a cargo of randomly-sized boulders into a lake with varied depths. Some initiatives will sink, others may become essential islands of security in rough weather, some might inadvertently hit and sink the boats of allies.

August 23, 2022 | Emily de La Bruyère, Nathan Picarsic

The Lesson of Pelosi’s Taiwan Visit: Win The Production Battle, Win the War

On August 2, in retaliation for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, China announced “targeted” drills and missile tests around the island. Two days later, China’s People’s Liberation...

August 15, 2022 | Cleo Paskal, Anthony Bergin

Sogavare staging a coup with Chinese characteristics

Excerpt Last week dignitaries, including US ambassador to Australia, Caroline Kennedy, gathered for a dawn ceremony on Bloody Ridge in Solomon Islands to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the start of...

July 16, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

The rodeo that was the Pacific Islands Forum meeting

Fiji’s capital Suva is turning into Vienna in the 1930s, when ‘diplomats’ from around the world spied on each other and sent cables home about who was sleeping with whom. Meanwhile, across the border, the war machine was roaring into life.

June 4, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

China winning entropic warfare in Pacific Islands

We’ve seen Chinese entropic warfare in various stages in Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. And the contagion seems to be spreading in the Pacific.

May 21, 2022 | Cleo Paskal |

Is Chinese pressure making Solomon Islands stall Indian envoy’s visit?

Alexandria, VA: India makes China nervous in ways none of the other Quad countries do. So it’s not surprising that, according to sources, the Solomon Islands government is stalling the entry of the Indian...