The Australian government has “respectfully” asked Solomon Islands leaders not to sign a contentious security agreement with Beijing that could open the door for troops and naval ships to be stationed in the region. The deal, which was “initialled” on March 31 between Chinese Ambassador Li Ming, and Solomons’ Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of…
Australia Calls on Solomon Islands to Dump Security Deal with Beijing
Australian Minister Makes Urgent Dash to Solomons Over Chinese Security Deal
Australia’s pacific minister has briefly dropped election campaigning to fly to the Solomon Islands amid anxiety over an impending security deal with the Beijing regime and the recent leak of a Chinese request to import arms into the region. Minister Zed Seselja is due for talks with Solomon Islands officials on April 13 in the…
Australia Blocks China With $1.6 Billion Takeover of South Pacific Telco
The Australian federal government and major telecommunications firm Telstra have pulled the trigger on a US$1.6 billion (AU$2.1 billion) takeover of a dominant South Pacific mobile telecommunications business amid ongoing concerns Beijing could step in and deepen its foothold in the region. The government and Telstra announced its decision on Oct. 25 to acquire the…
Australia Reforms Visa Policies to Better Introduce Overseas Workers
The Australian government has made it easier for overseas workers to enter the country to fill labour shortages in the agriculture and hospitality industries. “The Morrison Government has today announced the first stage of reforms to Australia’s labour mobility programs – the Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) and the Seasonal Worker Program (SWP)–which will make the…
Australia Bankrolls $68M Fiji Airport, Amid Pacific Competition With Beijing
Australia will provide $68 million to Fiji to assist with airport upgrades amid a wider influence push into the South Pacific region against Beijing’s encroaching hegemony. The government-backed Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) will partner with ANZ Bank to support infrastructure upgrades to increase passenger capacity at Nadi International Airport to help…
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