Papua New Guinea to Open Jerusalem Embassy
Latest Developments Papua New Guinea’s prime minister will visit Israel next week to open an embassy in Jerusalem, a spokesperson for his office said on August 28. The inauguration, tentatively...
Fiji
In sign of weakness, pro-PRC Solomons PM avoids meeting US Congress members
PM Sogavare avoided meeting a US Congressional Delegation that was visiting the country. Not a single government minister met the two Members of Congress during their time in the capital, Honiara.
Op-eds
Modi goes to PNG – why it matters to the region and Australia
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Papua New Guinea early next week and then go on to Australia, despite the cancellation of the Quad Leaders’ summit. Fortunately, Prime Minister Modi’s...
Op-eds
Micronesia’s President Writes Bombshell Letter on China’s ‘Political Warfare’
Outgoing President David Panuelo released a lengthy letter detailing Beijing’s efforts to bribe and bully Micronesian leaders – and exploring the possibility of recognizing Taiwan instead.
Op-eds
The U.S. is blocked from ports in PRC-Influenced Solomons, Vanuatu
PRC-linked actors attempting to politically take out Premier Daniel Suidani of Malaita.
Op-eds
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.
Op-eds
Right to vote being snatched from Solomon Islanders by PRC-backed PM
Sogavare has introduced a Bill to postpone elections. Reaction on the ground is seething. Likely Sogavare and his backers in Beijing don’t mind violence so they can activate the China security deal.
Op-eds
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.
Op-eds
U.S. Should FACE Facts in the Pacific
The United States needs an engagement policy with the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) that is Flexible, Appropriate, Coordinated and Effective (FACE). FLEXIBLE It needs to show flexibility when working...
Op-eds
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.
Op-eds
China launches empire building exercise in Pacific theatre
President Panuelo: ‘Chinese control over our security space, aside from impacts on our sovereignty, increases the chances of China getting into conflict with Australia, Japan, US and New Zealand, on the day when Beijing decides to invade Taiwan
Op-eds
China moves frontline to Solomons, locals fight back
Alexandria, VA: This is Beijing’s “Oh yeah? So what are you gonna do about it?” moment. With the confirmation of a security agreement between China and Solomon Islands—a country approximately 1200...
Op-eds
Eyewitness: Volcano, tsunami devastate Tonga, help urgently needed
World Exclusive: ‘One could see the huge smoke column from the volcano shoot straight up from the horizon into the sky, until you couldn’t see it anymore. It’s almost as if it was erupting into space itself.’
Op-eds
The Solomon Islands Crisis Shows America Needs a New Pacific Strategy
The U.S. has been largely subcontracting its foreign policy for many Pacific Islands to Australia and New Zealand. That needs to change.
Op-eds
Foreign Intervention Complicates Solomon Islands Unrest
The problem was sparked by perceived CCP interference. It can’t be solved by Australia taking a similarly heavy hand.
Op-eds
Japan, India, Quad can play big role in Micronesia: Dr Hayakawa
‘Japan and US have had a relationship with the Micronesian region for over 100 years. Australia has also been providing patrol boats for the past nearly 30 years. India has just begun. It will be important to build a relationship first.’
Op-eds
Quad should make Micronesia a priority
Most leaders in the region want closer relationships with other democracies, especially in economic development, education, and health care, so that they have option to China’s CNP (Comprehensive National Power) onslaught.
Op-eds
Beijing Eyes New Military Bases Across the Indo-Pacific
Tanzania, Cambodia, and the UAE are on China’s wish list—and now Kiribati, within striking distance of Hawaii.
Op-eds
How the Pacific Islands Forum Fell Apart
The decision by Micronesian countries to leave the PIF will have major strategic implications.
Op-eds
Did China help rig the South Korean election?
One of the probable goals of the manipulation, for the CCP at least, is to nurture a political constellation in South Korea that is more likely to eventually move to expel US forces from the peninsula, changing the strategic calculus in the whole Indo-Pacific. This could be a problem for India.