Pacific Islands

Stream article image
International relations

Solomon Island lease sparks alarm over China's military footprint

Canberra on edge over Chinese company's plan to develop Tulagi in South Pacific

19 October 2019
NASA rendering of an ascent vehicle of the Artemis program blasting off from the surface of the moon.
International relations

Australia joins US in battle with China for space supremacy

New agency tasked with diversifying economy while bolstering military ties

18 October 2019
The Brisbane River is seen flowing past the skyline of central Brisbane.
DealStreetAsia

Australia’s QIC sells landmark Brisbane property to Shayher

Taiwanese-backed buyer recently acquired Bulimba Barracks in Brisbane

17 October 2019
Graham Gilbert, one of the artists involved with The Torch program. (Courtesy of The Torch)
Arts

Indigenous offenders in Australia find new life in art

Pioneering prison program aims to foster pride and creativity among country's Aboriginal population

16 October 2019
Japan's Rugby World Cup squad has players from various backgrounds. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Tea Leaves

Lessons in identity and sport from Planet Rugby

Japan's Brave Blossoms show they have skin in the game

16 October 2019
Cattle stir up dust in a drought-affected paddock on the outskirts of Dubbo in New South Wales.
Economy

Australian farm exports wither under 'worst drought in 50 years'

Wheat shortage hits Indonesian noodle makers while bushfires rage in Queensland

15 October 2019
Stream article image
International relations

China's new ties with Solomon Islands flash on US radar

Strategists fear Beijing's extended power projection in South Pacific

11 October 2019
Donald Trump, left, Shinzo Abe, center, and Narendra Modi hold a meeting on June 28: the Quad's main strategic use is for signaling purposes.
Opinion

India grows keener on the Quad as relationship with China worsens

Four-sided alliance with US, Australia and Japan offers needed friends

10 October 2019
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare walk past the Chinese honor guard in Beijing on Oct. 9.
International relations

Beijing embraces Solomon Islands after switch from Taipei

Xi calls Pacific nation an extension of 'Maritime Silk Road'

10 October 2019
Tsai Ing-wen rejuvenated the New Southbound Policy in 2016 while Beijing launched its measures to bring Taipei back into line.
Opinion

Taiwan's New Southbound Policy is decreasing its reliance on China

Looking to regional neighbors for closer trade relationships is bearing fruit

4 October 2019
The U.S. military conducted on Aug. 18 a flight test of a type of missile banned for more than 30 years by a treaty that both the United States and Russia abandoned in that month.
Opinion

China will use economic pain to hinder US's Pacific missile deployment

Beijing's leverage looms over American allies like Philippines and South Korea

4 October 2019
Military vehicles carrying YJ anti-ship missiles march during the military parade in September 2015: China's new weapons will make the South China Sea a deadly environment.
Opinion

China's military buildup is worry for neighbors and warning for US

Hypersonic missiles and stealthy jets bolster Beijing's might

1 October 2019
Lockheed-Martin says more than 50 Australian companies are involved in the entire F-35 program.
Politics

Australia turns to military spending for jobs and growth

$135bn spree has analysts wondering if 'defense dividend' will materialize

30 September 2019
Soybean plants stretch to the horizon on a farm in Barreiras, Brazil, the world's largest exporter of the crop.
Business deals

Trade war sparks $650m Sumitomo Chemical deal in South America

Japanese company to buy Australian agrichemical peer's soybean-focused assets

30 September 2019
Fonterra's dairy products account for more than 20% of the country's exports.
Food & Beverage

Why New Zealand's Fonterra is rethinking global ambitions

Worldwide expansion jarred with its roots as a local cooperative

28 September 2019
Fonterra's normalised earnings per share for the year was 17 cents, above the last forecast for the year of 10-15 cents.
Food & Beverage

New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra posts record annual loss

Shares rise despite writedowns totalling NZ$826 million

26 September 2019
With the loss of the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, Taiwan now retains diplomatic ties with only 15 countries.
Comment

South Pacific pivot to Beijing recasts regional chessboard

Diplomatic switches to China mirror Japan's WWII strategic dominance over region

22 September 2019
New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to Nikkei in Tokyo on Thursday. (Photo by Kai Fujii)
Interview

New Zealand's 5G plan 'not a political decision'

PM Jacinda Ardern says Huawei approval will rest with intelligence agency

19 September 2019
Japan and South Africa play a warm-up game at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium: The venue's operator has decorated access streets to encourage fans to walk to the games. (Photo by Toshiki Sasazu)
Rugby World Cup

Rugby World Cup tickets 95% sold out ahead of opening match

500,000 foreign fans expected to help create a $4bn windfall for host Japan

19 September 2019
Blaming the Tsai administration would be invidious.
Opinion

Loss of Solomon Islands is no significant blow to Taiwan

China's Pacific strategy may backfire by bolstering support for President Tsai

18 September 2019
The Solomon Islands switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing on Monday.
International relations

China scores big win with Solomons switch from Taiwan

The move is a 'huge blow to Washington and Canberra'

17 September 2019
A shopper browses Mengniu's milk products at a Beijing supermarket.
Business deals

China's Mengniu buys Australian organic formula maker for $1bn

Dairy group grabs ASX-listed Bellamy's in first overseas deal

17 September 2019
Taiwan's foreign minister, Joseph Wu, told reporters in Taipei late on Monday that it would immediately close down its embassy in the Solomon Islands and recall all of its diplomats.(Photo by Kensaku Ihara)
International relations

Beijing 'bought off' Solomon Islands, Taiwan minister says

Pacific island nation breaks ties with Taipei and recognizes Beijing

17 September 2019
Japanese trading group Sumitomo owns this commercial forest in New Zealand, one of the Asia-Pacific region's biggest wood exporters. (Photo courtesy of the company)
Business trends

Asian wood demand drives $230m Japan investment in New Zealand

Sumitomo sees need for building supplies and biomass fuel

16 September 2019
Chinese political cartoonist Badiucao waves his "Lennon Wall" flag, which he created as a symbol of Hong Kong's freedom, at a conference in Melbourne on Sept. 4.
Arts

Satirical cartoonist Badiucao feels Beijing's ire in Australia

Hong Kong protesters embrace artist's graphic commentary on city standoff

13 September 2019