Pacific Islands

Mourners gather to offer condolences at Tokyo's Zojoji Temple, where the private funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was held on July 12. (Photo by Yo Inoue)
Your Week in Asia

Abe state funeral, U.S.-Pacific Island Country Summit, World Bank update

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

25 September 2022
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Damukana Sogavare addresses the United Nations General Assembly in 2017. The leader has appeared to snub the U.S. since signing a security agreement with China.
International relations

Solomons 'unfairly targeted' since recognizing China: prime minister

Sogavare says islands 'friends to all' amid concern over security deal with Beijing

24 September 2022
The Sydney Opera House is illuminated in honour of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 9.
International relations

Queen's death may stir republican sentiment in Australia, Pacific

Affection for Elizabeth as head of state might not transfer to King Charles

15 September 2022
Palau President Surangel Whipps speaks during an interview with the Nikkei on Sept. 8 in Tokyo.
Interview

Palau will maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan, president vows

Pacific island nation sees parallel with events in Ukraine

8 September 2022
The summit will reflect Washington's "broadening and deepening cooperation on key issues such as climate change, pandemic response, economic recovery, maritime security, environmental protection, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific," the White House said in a statement.
Indo-Pacific

Biden to host Pacific Island leaders as China courts region

12 countries, including the Solomon Islands, invited to Sept. 28-29 summit in U.S.

3 September 2022
The Solomon Islands' Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's embrace of China is worrying opposition leaders and regional bodies. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
Indo-Pacific

Solomon Islands lurch toward despotism as China debt deepens

U.S. Navy ships banned from port; Sogavare imposes media controls

30 August 2022
Sunset at Hapuna Beach on the west coast of the island of Hawaii, world-famous for its beauty. (Photo by Akira Takemura)
Travel & Leisure

Pandemic helps restore nature in Hawaii, changes tourism

Participating in conservation is becoming a part of the travel experience

20 August 2022
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend a signing ceremony in Beijing in October 2019: China is making definite inroads in the region.
Opinion

China cannot match what U.S. has to offer Pacific island states

Washington and its allies must strengthen region's democratic institutions

5 August 2022
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hugs Solomon Islands counterpart Manasseh Sogavare on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva, Fiji, on July 13.
International relations

Pacific forum signals reset with Australia, U.S. as China hovers

Albanese and Solomon Islands' Sogavare hug it out after neighbors' security spat

14 July 2022
Micronesia's President David Panuelo during an exclusive interview with Nikkei Asia on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum on July 13 in Suva, Fiji. (Photo by Fumi Matsumoto)
Interview

Micronesia president frets over China's regional security goals

Bilateral ties only 'on economic and technical cooperation': FSM leader Panuelo

13 July 2022
Palau's President Surangel Whipps speaks to Nikkei Asia on the sidelines of Pacific Islands Forum in the Fijian capital of Suva on July 12.
Interview

Palau maintains Taiwan ties despite Chinese pressure

Pacific nation will raise concerns at regional forum, president says

13 July 2022
Protesters criticize the treatment of women in Australian politics last year. Gender equality was a key theme of the recent Australian election that brought a change of government.
Society

WEF Gender Gap report shines harsh light on Asia's lopsided politics

Japan, China and others trail as region remains only 13% of way to political parity

13 July 2022
Activists in Jakarta protest during International Women's Day on March 8.
Coronavirus

COVID worsens gender gap in Indonesia, Pakistan: UN agency report

Study also shows women in Pacific islands affected more by vaccine misinformation

22 June 2022
Wang Yi, left, lock arms with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara, Solomon Islands, on May 26: Wang's strategic overreach put him off balance.
Opinion

China loses its way in the South Pacific

Wang Yi's eight-nation tour fails to impress

7 June 2022
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, left, meets with Tongan King Tupou VI in Nuku'alofa on Friday. (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs via AP)
Indo-Pacific

Australia runs diplomatic Pacific island blitz in China's wake

Foreign minister travels to three islands in less than two weeks in office

4 June 2022
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi waves from his car as he arrives in Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on May 31. Wang and a 20-strong delegation are on an eight-nation Pacific islands tour.
The Nikkei View

Quad should help Pacific islands and halt China's military advance

Tug of war for influence intensifies in strategically vital region

1 June 2022
Anthony Albanese addresses Labor colleagues during a party caucus in Canberra on May 31: Strategically-minded people are once again in charge of Australian foreign relations.
Opinion

Historic alliance beckons if Greens can work with Australia's Albanese

Failure to make common cause would set the country back another decade

1 June 2022
The airstrip on Kanton Island in Kiribati was built by the U.S. military. 
International relations

Kiribati runway project in focus as China's Wang Yi tours region

Small islands in South Pacific play big role in geopolitical chess match

29 May 2022
Chinese naval personnel stand at attention. The country is seeking to establish defense ties in the Pacific Ocean.
Indo-Pacific

China seeks regional security deal with Pacific Island nations

One leader warns that the arrangement would lead to a new Cold War or worse

27 May 2022
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, attends a signing ceremony with Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele in 2019.
Indo-Pacific

China gets jump on Australia's new government with Pacific tour

Wang leads Beijing's battle for influence in Solomons and other island nations

26 May 2022
Protestors gather outside the parliament building in Honiara, Solomon Islands on Nov. 24, 2021. Georgina Kekea via REUTERS
International relations

New Zealand extends military deployment to Solomon Islands

Troops part of Pacific-led assistance force amid fears of growing China presence

25 May 2022
One challenge for countries like Australia is that Pacific states do not view relationships "as a choice or a swap," but rather additions to existing cooperation, said Lowy Institute research fellow Mihai Sora.
Asia Insight

Paradise lost? China, the Solomons and the battle for the Pacific

Security pact tests old benefactors like Australia amid vaccine diplomacy rush

17 May 2022
Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese speaks during the party's election campaign launch in Perth on May 1 ahead of the federal election on May 21.
International relations

Australian opposition blames PM Morrison for Solomons 'failure'

Containing Chinese influence in Pacific becomes key issue in upcoming election

4 May 2022
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, shakes hands with Solomon Islands counterpart Jeremiah Manele at a ceremony in Beijing to mark the establishment of diplomatic ties in September 2019. 
The Nikkei View

China's Solomon Islands deal risks militarizing South Pacific

Archipelago is key transportation hub for U.S. and Japanese vessels

27 April 2022
Ministers attend a joint videoconference about a European data infrastructure project called Gaia-X in Paris in June 2020: The EU wants European data to be stored on European servers.
Opinion

Ukraine war accelerates new era of vertical globalization

Corporations can no longer put profits over politics

25 April 2022