Blog
Oceania
Ardern Poised to Win Re-election in New Zealand.
By Joshua Mcdonald
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.
Australia Looks to Tighten Government Oversight of University Agreements With China
By Robert Potter
The move is overdue, as public entities and state governments have proven unable to fully vet their agreements with China.
PIF Fragmentation May Alter US-China Competition in the Pacific
By Derek Grossman
A looming north-south split in the Pacific Islands Forum poses both challenges and opportunities to the rival superpowers.
Pacific Islands Forum Presses for Human Rights Mission to West Papua
By Joshua Mcdonald
Protests continue in West Papua as the Pacific Islands Forum seeks access to assess the human rights situation.
Fiji’s Bainimarama Makes Pacific Plea for Multilateralism
By Grant Wyeth
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.
UN Raises Human Rights Concerns Over Proposed Mine in PNG
By Joshua Mcdonald
Papua New Guinea has a troubling history of foreign mining companies destroying the ecosystem locals depend on.
New Caledonia Again Ponders Independence From France
By Joshua Mcdonald
A second independence referendum, of a possible three, is scheduled for October 4.
Bougainville Elects Ishmael Toroama President, Eyes Set on Independence
By Grant Wyeth
An autonomous region in Papua New Guinea, Bougainville is aiming for independence and elected a president who shares that ambition.
The Waning Health of US Democracy Is a Poignant Reminder for Australia
By Philip Citowicki
With alarm bells ringing across the Pacific, Australia must act quickly to reform its own political environment – before it’s too late.
The Case of Cheng Lei: China Blurring the Lines of Ethnicity and Citizenship
By Grant Wyeth
China has effectively created a Schrödinger’s Chinese Australian, where a person’s nationality is simultaneously Australian and Chinese depending on which serves the CCP’s purposes.
New Zealand’s Defense Ministry Sizes Up the International Security Environment
By Nicholas Dynon
Its Statement of Intent 2020-2024 provides an assessment of the country’s security environment – with COVID-19 thrown in the mix.
Australia Enters First Recession Since 1991
By Joshua Mcdonald
After almost three decades of uninterrupted economic growth, Australia’s luck has run out thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.