Marles in China Pacific security talks Defence Minister Richard Marles has met with his Chinese counterpart as Beijing holds police co-operation talks with some Pacific island nations. AAP · Nov 23, 2022
Labour schemes drawing nurses from across Pacific to lower-qualified aged care jobs in Australia, New Zealand An exodus of over-qualified Pacific Island nurses who are taking up aged care jobs in countries such as Australia has experts concerned the "brain drain" is leaving critical gaps in the region's healthcare systems. ABC News · Nov 22, 2022
From Pacific to Red Sea: climate court action gathers wave of support A campaign by the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu for the world's top court to take a stance on protecting people from climate change gained momentum on Friday, winning the support of almost half the nearly 200 countries at a global summit. Reuters · Nov 18, 2022
AFP confirms it received budget funding to set up a new Solomon Islands police training centre The Australian Federal Police confirms the government allocated money in the budget to set up a new police training centre in the Pacific Island country and to ensure Australian officers remain there until the Pacific Games. ABC News · Nov 8, 2022
Australia's borders are open, so where are all the backpackers? Backpackers on working holiday maker visas have been a crucial source of farm labour for decades, alongside smaller numbers of temporary migrants from the Pacific Islands, international students, and Australians. The Conversation · Nov 3, 2022
First-time US homebuyers are oldest on record and least diverse since 1997 Both first-time and repeat U.S. homebuyers are now the oldest on record, and the proportion of purchases by Black, Asian and Pacific Island Americans is the lowest since 1997, the latest evidence that it’s increasingly difficult to buy a home. Tribune News Service · Nov 3, 2022
Donors dig deep to prop up Pacific economies left reeling by the 'dire consequences of COVID' New figures shows that foreign aid to the Pacific surged to record highs as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on regional economies, while Chinese development assistance fell to a new low. ABC News · Oct 30, 2022
Pacific Islands defence ministers meet in Tonga to boost 'interoperability' South Pacific defence ministers will meet in Tonga on Tuesday, with Australia seeking a closer military relationship with the three island nations that have defence forces to counter China's security push in the region. Reuters · Oct 17, 2022
Satoshi Island project aims to turn a remote Pacific island into a city built on cryptocurrency With a litany of logistical and legal hurdles between the vision for Satoshi Island and its reality, experts fear the project may eventually fall flat or run foul of local Vanuatu laws. ABC News · Oct 10, 2022
Pacific Islands backed a partnership with the US, but China unlikely to be deterred in push for influence A week after the US and the Pacific signed a historic joint-partnership declaration, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown says China had a "different approach to engaging with the Pacific" to the US, while an expert says Beijing will not be deterred from pushing for influence in the region. ABC News · Oct 5, 2022
‘We have let this drift’: US says further work to do after signing Pacific Islands partnership The United States concedes it let its relationship with Pacific Island nations "drift" before reaching a historic new partnership agreement with the region. ABC News · Oct 1, 2022
Biden uses $130M in frozen Egypt aid to help Pacific Islands The Biden administration will pay for $130 million in new climate initiatives for Pacific Island nations by reallocating money that originally been earmarked for military assistance for Egypt The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2022
Amid rising seas, island nations push for legal protection When and if an island nation fully submerges due to climate change, what happens to the nationalities of its citizens The Independent UK · Sep 30, 2022
U.S., Pacific Island nations vow to strengthen partnership in summit declaration The United States and Pacific island nations vowed to strengthen their partnership in a declaration released on Thursday, the second day of a summit, as Washington tried to address their needs amid its concerns over China's role in the region. Reuters · Sep 30, 2022
Reuters · Sep 29, 2022 Biden says U.S. and world security depend on Pacific security U.S. President Joe Biden told Pacific island leaders on Thursday that the security of the United States and the world depended on security in their region.
ABC News · Sep 29, 2022 US, Pacific Island leaders vow to strengthen ties with historic partnership declaration amid growing China risks The United States and Pacific nations unveil a joint partnership declaration, backed by 14 island states, vowing to strengthen ties amid growing concerns of China's role in the region.
The Independent UK · Sep 29, 2022 Biden's Pacific strategy heralds new engagement in region The White House is unveiling a Pacific strategy designed to bolster U.S. engagement with more than a dozen island nations on issues including climate change and maritime security
Al Jazeera · Sep 29, 2022 Red carpet rolled out in US bid to woo Pacific Islands from China Washington is in heated competition with Beijing for influence among Pacific island nations.
ABC News · Sep 29, 2022 Antony Blinken suggests all countries set to join historic US-Pacific declaration, despite earlier Solomon Islands refusal Secretary of State Antony Blinken says Pacific Island nations have agreed to a "new partnership" with the United States on day one of the leaders' summit and suggests all 12 countries are onboard to sign a historic US-Pacific declaration.
The Guardian - AU · Sep 29, 2022 US strikes partnership deal with Pacific Island leaders at historic summit US official says Pacific leaders endorsed joint statement one day after leaked documents showed discord among the group over proposals
The Independent UK · Sep 28, 2022 Biden looks to win over Pacific Island leaders at summit President Joe Biden is set to host Pacific Island leaders for a two-day summit as the U.S. looks to counter China’s influence in the region
Reuters · Sep 28, 2022 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.
ABC News · Sep 28, 2022 Draft US-Pacific declaration shows diplomatic wrangling over security, climate change A draft joint declaration being negotiated by the United States and Pacific Island countries outlines intensifying American security cooperation with the region and declares climate change is the "greatest existential threat" to the Pacific.
Reuters · Sep 28, 2022 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 · Sep 27, 2022 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.