Pacific Islands

A New Zealand soldier guards a convoy of trucks in the Solomon Islands in April 2006.
29 May 2023
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, center, is greeted by Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape, left, late on May 21.
International relations

Modi extends 'Global South' outreach to Pacific islands after G-7

Indian PM 'forcefully' made developing world's case at rich nations' summit

22 May 2023
Leaders from the second summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation pose for a "family photo" in Jaipur, India, in August 2015. (Photo by NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Your Week in Asia

India-Pacific summit, Russian PM to China, Future of Asia event

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 May 2023
The flag of Papua New Guinea flies at Port Moresby.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. eyes access to Papua New Guinea naval base and airport

South Pacific competition intensifies following China’s deal with Solomon Islands

14 May 2023
Wesley Simina, left, is sworn in as president of Micronesia on May 11. (Photo courtesy of the presidential office)
Politics

Micronesia's new president takes over from Taiwan-leaning predecessor

Wesley Simina faces diplomatic balancing act between China and U.S.

12 May 2023
U.S. servicemen carry supplies at the Naval Base Guam. The Pacific islands have become a major concern in Washington's rivalry with Beijing. (Handout photo from the U.S. Navy)
Indo-Pacific

U.S. to strike economic deal with Pacific islands to counter China

Washington explores more military access as Beijing expands reach

21 April 2023
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami and Kumano frigates at the Yokosuka base. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Defense

Japan's defense forces to visit Kiribati on biggest-ever Indo-Pacific tour

Deployment aims to check China's influence after island nation cuts Taiwan ties

21 April 2023
With her trip to New Caledonia and Tuvalu, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will have visited every member of the Pacific Islands Forum.
International relations

Australia foreign minister visits Pacific islands with eye on China

Climate, post-COVID economic recovery on agenda in New Caledonia and Tuvalu

20 April 2023
Sri Lankan women protest against high living costs and taxes on March 8: The island nation and others in debt distress are in need of relief. 
Opinion

G-20 nations should commit $500bn a year to 'SDG Stimulus'

The world is running out of time to rescue the U.N. 2030 Agenda

10 April 2023
Then-incoming Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, in jacket, celebrates his election victory with allies in Suva on Dec. 20, 2022. 
Opinion

Fiji is trying to move beyond 'coup culture'

Democratic transition is off to a bumpy start and many risks remain

7 April 2023
A farmer makes plantings on a floating seedbed made from invasive water hyacinths in Pirojpur district, Bangladesh: Modern-day green technologies can take inspiration from indigenous practices.
Opinion

Asia's green transition will require more climate finance

Philanthropic organizations can support technological innovations

14 February 2023
Oxeye scad in Raja Ampat, Indonesia: The transition from an extractive to a regenerative model will rely on systemic political and economic shifts.
Opinion

Asia's 'blue capital' can help alleviate hunger and poverty

Fishery and aquaculture output can be sustainably expanded with care

2 February 2023
A researcher counts fish swimming around a coral reef at Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific: Half of all marine life is at risk from acidification.
Opinion

Carbon dioxide is poisoning the seas, not just the atmosphere

More action needed to stop acidification from wrecking food chain

20 January 2023
People's Alliance Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka speaks to the press after Fiji's election in Suva on Dec. 17. He struck a coalition deal with two smaller parties to dislodge incumbent Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.
Politics

Fiji's army deployed after uncertain election in coup-prone nation

After promising to respect democratic outcome, role of army suddenly unclear

22 December 2022
High-tide flooding in the Marshall Islands capital of Majuro in this Dec. 6, 2021 photo.
Climate Change

Pacific islands see China-West tussle as chance for climate action

Geopolitics in area 'more and more intertwined' with global warming concerns

21 December 2022
From left to right, Yessie Mosby, Anjali Viswamohanan, Chongrak Thinagul and Jose Cobangbang IV have a wide range of reasons for being at the world's largest climate summit.
COP27

'Why I'm at COP': Climate summit attendees tell their stories

Huge conference in Egypt drawing thousands of people from around the world

13 November 2022
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 8.
COP27

Pay for climate change, Pakistan and others tell rich nations

Prime Minister Sharif calls his country's floods a 'man-made disaster' at COP27

9 November 2022
Made up of 80 small islands in the South Pacific, Vanuatu is at the forefront of destructive extreme weather events.
COP27

Vanuatu says cyclones, rising seas are 'human rights issues'

Climate envoy from small Pacific nation makes remark ahead of COP27

5 November 2022
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, second from left, with counterparts from the South Pacific in Tonga. He visited Papua New Guinea before the meeting, and will later head to Fiji. (Photo courtesy of Australia's Defense Ministry)
Indo-Pacific

Australia, South Pacific islands bolster ties as China's clout grows

Canberra ramps up diplomacy via regional defense chiefs' meeting and bilateral talks

19 October 2022
A nuclear weapon is detonated at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in 1946. (Image has been colorized.) 
International relations

U.S. nuclear tests hang over Marshall Islands treaty talks

Failure to address compensation, climate change could open door for China

17 October 2022
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, left, and Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese meet in Canberra on Oct. 6. (AAP)
Indo-Pacific

Solomon Islands, Australia reaffirm security and development ties

Sogavare, Albanese build relationship as China woos Solomons with economic aid

7 October 2022
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, right, poses for a photo with U.S. President Joe Biden, second from right, and other Pacific Island leaders on Sept. 29.
Indo-Pacific

Solomon Islands signs U.S.-Pacific partnership statement in about-face

China-leaning country seen influencing toned-down language on security

1 October 2022
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a working lunch at the U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit in Washington on Sept. 28.
Indo-Pacific

U.S. warns of China threat in first Pacific islands strategy

Biden administration plans to open 3 embassies in region to bolster influence

30 September 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden will host 18 Pacific nation leaders at a summit in Washington on Sept. 28. (Source photo by Reuters) 
International relations

Pacific leaders seek to shed political pawn status at Biden summit

President's meeting a response to China's proposed alliances in region

28 September 2022
Kamala Harris speaks via video link during the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, Fiji, on July 13: The U.S. should seek sustainable influence in the Pacific region.
Opinion

Pacific summit is Biden's chance to demonstrate U.S. soft power

In belated outreach, compassion and commitment can close gap with China

27 September 2022