Category: South Pacific

Kiribati Suspends More Judges Amid Beijing’s South Pacific Push

The government of Kiribati has suspended another three judges—this time members of the Court of Appeal—after they blocked attempts to deport High Court Judge David Lambourne. The situation plunges the small Pacific nation’s democracy into crisis, leaving it without a functioning Appeals and High Court, and continues a tumultuous few weeks for the South Pacific—already…


US Hospital Ship a Pawn in Solomons Prime Minister Power Play: Expert

South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal has said the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is steadily moving all his chips into place before a sudden move to solidify his hold on power with the backing of Beijing. Her comments come in response to the recent decision by the Solomons to allow U.S. Navy hospital ship,…


US Hospital Ship a Pawn in Solomons PM’s China Power Play: Expert

South Pacific expert Cleo Paskal has said the Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is steadily moving all his chips into place before a sudden move to solidify his hold on power with the backing of Beijing. Her comments come in response to the recent decision by the Solomons to allow U.S. Navy hospital ship,…


East Timor Pulls China Card in Floundering Energy Talks With Australia

East Timor President Jose Ramas-Horta is using China as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Australian government over the construction of a gas pipeline from the resource-heavy Timor Sea. The president said his country would be happy to enlist China’s help to facilitate the development of the pipeline from the Greater Sunrise gas fields project…


US Indicts 2 Beijing-Linked Marshallese Citizens for Political Bribery

The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted two naturalised citizens of the Marshall Islands for running a multi-year money laundering and bribery scheme—via a UN-linked non-profit organisation—to support the creation of a special economic zone within the Pacific country. One expert says the incident is an example of Beijing’s efforts to destabilise democratic institutions in…


Solomons Accepts US Medical Ship Visit After Rejecting Naval Vessel

The Solomon Islands has received the U.S. Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, during its inaugural visit to the island despite earlier rejecting a scheduled port call from U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry. On Aug. 31, the Solomons government released a statement saying Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the…


Solomons Accepts US Medical Ship Visit After Rejecting Coast Guard Vessel

The Solomon Islands has received the U.S. Navy hospital ship, the Mercy, during its inaugural visit to the island despite earlier rejecting a scheduled port call from U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry. On Aug. 31, the Solomons government released a statement saying Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare spoke at the welcoming ceremony for the…


Defence Minister Unable to Confirm If Solomons’ US Naval Ship Ban Extends to Australia

Defence Minister Richard Marles could not confirm whether a recent ban on U.S. naval ship visits to the Solomon Islands extended to Australian vessels. On Aug. 29, the U.S. Embassy in Canberra revealed the Solomon Islands had notified the U.S. authorities of a “moratorium” on all naval visits pending updates to its “protocol procedures.” “We…


Solomon Islands Suspends All US Naval Visits

The Solomon Islands has informed U.S. authorities that all naval visits have been suspended until further notice following an earlier incident on Aug. 23 when a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry, was denied permission for a scheduled port call. The incident comes amid mounting concerns about Beijing’s influence in the region and Solomons…


US Coast Guard Vessel Denied Port Call in Solomon Islands

U.S. Coast Guard vessel, the Oliver Henry, was greeted with silence when it requested permission for a scheduled port call in the Solomon Islands, forcing the crew to Papua New Guinea instead. The incident comes amid mounting concerns about the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the region and the ongoing weakening of democratic…