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The Latest Breaking News from David Panuelo

US, Micronesia deepen political and economic ties

Deal is likely to be a blow to China, which has made a concerted effort to increase its influence in Micronesia.

Al Jazeera

Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa warns China not the only outside power looking to increase their presence in Pacific

During a visit to Canberra, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata'afa warns that China is not the only major power that may want to secure further military access to the Pacific "under the guise of protecting assets".

ABC News

Honduras says it will seek ties with China, spurning Taiwan

China claims self-ruled, democratic Taiwan is part of its territory and refuses most contacts with countries that maintain formal ties with Taiwan.

WEKU

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Micronesia's president accuses China of 'political warfare'

Micronesia’s president has accused China of “political warfare” in a letter to other national leaders

The Independent UK

Micronesia leader accuses China of bribery, threats in Taiwan bid

David Panuelo says Beijing conducting ‘political warfare’ against his island nation as part of campaign to take Taiwan.

Al Jazeera

Outgoing president of Micronesia accuses China of bribery, threats and interference

In his letter, Panuelo openly canvassed the country switching its diplomatic recognition from Beijing to Taipei

The Guardian - UK

Micronesian president suggests severing diplomatic ties with China in favour of Taiwan due to 'political warfare'

In a scathing 13-page letter to Congress, David Panuelo says China has committed espionage in Federated State of Micronesian waters, bribed local politicians and attempted to undermine the nation's sovereignty.

ABC News

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Pacific Islands Fourm 'one big family' as leaders meet and select new leader amid intense US-China competition

Former Nauru president Baron Waqa is set to take the reins of the Pacific's peak regional body, after a special leaders meeting in Fiji.

ABC News

Pacific Island leaders announce US President Joe Biden will visit the region

Five Micronesian countries declare that President Joe Biden will visit the Pacific for a leaders' meeting later this year, in another sign the US remains intent on ramping up high level diplomatic engagement with the region.

ABC News

Pacific island leaders expect visit by U.S. president in 'near future'

The leaders of five Pacific island nations said on Tuesday U.S. President Joe Biden would soon visit their region for a leaders' summit, in what experts said would be a significant move in U.S. efforts to push back against Chinese inroads in the region.

Reuters

Micronesia to sign extension of U.S. security pact 'soon', President says

Micronesia aims to 'soon' sign an extension of its economic and security pact with the United States, its President David Panuelo said on Friday, a deal seen as important in Washington's efforts to counter Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Reuters

Micronesia says less afraid of release of Japanese nuclear plant water

The Pacific island state of Micronesia, one of the fiercest critics of a Japanese decision to release water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, said on Thursday it was no longer as worried about the plan as it had been.

Reuters

Australian politicians arrive in Palau, one of the few Pacific nations to diplomatically favour Taiwan over China

The tiny nation of Palau, which continues to defy pressure from Beijing to drop diplomatic ties with Taiwan, has welcomed a bi-partisan delegation from Australia as concerns grow over China's rising presence in the Pacific.

ABC News

This island territory wants a seat at the Pacific's 'top table'. But who is pulling the strings?

The government of Guam rejects suggestions Washington is behind the United States territory's bid to join the Pacific's peak diplomatic body.

ABC News

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Reuters

U.S. says it has agreed Pacific Islands partnership, offering 'big dollar' aid

The United States said at a summit with Pacific island leaders on Wednesday that it had agreed on a partnership for the future with them and held out the prospect of "big dollar" help to a region where it hopes to stem China's expanding influence.

Reuters

Solomon Islands tells Pacific islands it won't sign White House summit declaration -note

The Solomon Islands has told Pacific nations invited to a White House meeting with President Joe Biden it won't sign the summit declaration, according to a note seen by Reuters, prompting concern over the islands' ties to China.

ABC News

Solomon Islands refusing to sign 11-point declaration at historic Pacific-US meeting

Solomon Islands signals it won't sign on to an 11-point declaration negotiated by the United States and Pacific Island nations this week, dealing a blow to the White House ahead of a high-profile presidential summit with Pacific leaders in Washington.

Reuters

At U.N., Micronesia denounces Japan plan to release Fukushima water into Pacific

The president of the Pacific island state of Micronesia denounced at the United Nations on Thursday Japan's decision to discharge what he called nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the Pacific Ocean.

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Reuters

Washington should focus on climate change for Pacific islands- leaders

Washington should accept Pacific island priorities for the region, making climate change - not superpower competition - the most urgent security task, the region's leaders said in Hawaii, ahead of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden this month.

The Guardian - AU

Pacific leaders reach crucial deal to restore political unity, as China’s interest in region accelerates

The agreement, which stops the region’s key diplomatic body, PIF, from splitting, lifts a ‘big dark, dark cloud that has been hanging over the Pacific’

ABC News

Pacific Island Forum's leadership crisis comes into focus as leaders arrive in Fiji to resolve tensions

The ABC understands Pacific Island leaders hope to strike an agreement to resolve leadership questions, reform the organisation and allow the forum to stay whole, after last year's threat by Micronesian nations to withdraw.

The Conversation

What does China want in the Pacific? Diplomatic allies and strategic footholds

By the time Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s ten-day tour of the Pacific is over in early June, he will have met with leaders from all ten Pacific island countries that have diplomatic relations with China.

ABC News

China to continue pushing for Pacific Island nations to sign regional trade and security agreement

China's government says it remains confident it can strike a sweeping trade and security agreement with 10 Pacific Island states despite being forced to shelve its proposed agreement, but a new position paper walks back previous references on joint policing, free trade and cybersecurity.

WEKU

China falls short on big deal in South Pacific but finds smaller wins

Beijing's hopes to developing a marine plan for fisheries holding police training fell short over some countries' concerns over increasing geopolitical tensions and threatening regional stability.

The Independent UK

As China seeks big Pacific deal, many in Fiji see benefits

For Georgina Matilda, working for Chinese infrastructure company China Railway means that she can put food on the table for her children

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