Category: Pacific Islands

Ardern Believes New Australian Government a ‘Reset’ for Australia-New Zealand Relations

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the election victory of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signalled a “reset” to Trans-Tasman relations. Albanese and Ardern met on Thursday evening for an informal dinner before holding bilateral meetings on Friday. “I do see this as an opportunity for a reset because there were obviously some points…


Chinese-Linked Casinos in Pacific Islands Are Vehicles for Corruption, Expanding CCP Influence: Analysts

A Fijian court handed down a sentence and ordered a Chinese casino developer to pay $650,000 on April 28 for causing substantial damage to the environment while undertaking unauthorized development on Malolo Island in Fiji’s west. The case also highlighted the marathon struggle of Australian surfers Navrin Fox and Woody Jack who held a stake…


‘We Are in Lock-Step With the US’: New Australian PM on Combating China’s Influence

Australia will follow the United States’ lead in recognising China as “the most serious long-term challenge to the international order,” Australia’s newly elected Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed, as the communist regime continues stepping up its communist platform in the Pacific region. Speaking to Sky News on Sunday, Australia’s 31st prime minster said, “Australia’s…


Beijing Pursuing Pacific-Wide Trade, Security Pact to Entrench Influence

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the Pacific will coincide with attempts by Beijing to advance a South Pacific-wide deal with 10 island nations covering areas such as policing, security, and data communication, according to a leaked draft of the agreement. The expansive pact is the latest step by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)…


Beijing Pursuing Pacific-Wide Trade, Security, Data Pact to Entrench Influence

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the Pacific will coincide with attempts by Beijing to advance a South Pacific-wide deal with 10 island nations covering areas such as policing, security, and data communication, according to a leaked draft of the agreement. The expansive pact is the latest step by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)…


Beijing In Pursuit of Pacific Security, Data Bloc to Entrench Influence

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the Pacific will coincide with attempts by Beijing to advance a South Pacific-wide deal with 10 island nations covering areas such as policing, security, and data communication, according to a leaked draft of the agreement. The expansive pact is the latest step by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)…


Beijing Pursues Pacific Security, Data Bloc to Entrench Influence

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the Pacific will coincide with attempts by Beijing to advance a South Pacific-wide deal with 10 island nations covering areas such as policing, security, and data communication, according to a leaked draft of the agreement. The expansive pact is the latest step by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)…


Australian PM Rejects Diplomacy With Beijing, Concerned About China-Solomon Islands Security Pact

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has rejected the possibility of meeting with China’s ambassador Xiao Qian, a move he said would be a sign of “weakness.” Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Morrison described his decision as “an entirely proportional response” after Beijing “completely blocked any minister-to-minister dialogue.” “That would be a demonstration of weakness and…


US Needs to Gain Influence in Solomon Islands to Counter China: Indo-Pacific Expert

The United States needs to compete with China to gain more influence in the Solomon Islands, according to Indo-Pacific expert Cleo Paskal. “They are an essential strategic territory that you [the U.S.] need to be able to control or at least have access to, if you’re going to … contain China in this case,” Paskal…


New Beijing-Solomons Deal to Put Chinese Weaponry Within Striking Distance of Australia

A leaked draft security agreement between Beijing and the Solomon Islands’ will allow Chinese forces to be deployed to the Pacific nation to “protect the safety of Chinese personnel and major projects in Solomon Islands,” putting People’s Liberation Army forces within 1,700 kilometres of Australia’s northern city of Cairns. The “Framework Agreement Between the Government…