Oceania

The $25 million in aid to Malaita has sparked concerns that Washington is aid for geopolitical gain vis-a-vis China.

Next month the Senate will debate Australia’s participation in the 2022 Winter Olympics amid growing outcry over China’s human rights violations.

Jacinda Ardern’s Labor Party is expected to come out far ahead in Saturday’s election, but may end up needing the Greens as a coalition partner.

The move is overdue, as public entities and state governments have proven unable to fully vet their agreements with China.

A looming north-south split in the Pacific Islands Forum poses both challenges and opportunities to the rival superpowers.

Protests continue in West Papua as the Pacific Islands Forum seeks access to assess the human rights situation.

From COVID-19 to climate change, the most pressing global issues – and those of most concern to Pacific states – are best served by collective action.

Papua New Guinea has a troubling history of foreign mining companies destroying the ecosystem locals depend on. 

A second independence referendum, of a possible three, is scheduled for October 4.

An autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, Bougainville is aiming for independence and elected a president who shares that ambition.

With alarm bells ringing across the Pacific, Australia must act quickly to reform its own political environment – before it’s too late.