Politics

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, shakes hands with Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on June 4. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
International relations

Australia and Vietnam solidify ties with Albanese visit

Leaders look forward to upgrading bilateral relationship 'as soon as possible'

5 June 2023
Fijian Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration Pio Tikoduadua speaks to Nikkei Asia in Singapore on June 4. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

Fiji minister says terminating police pact with China 'possible'

New government still reviewing deal, wants to talk to Beijing about future ties

4 June 2023
The defense chiefs from Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the U.S. met on the sidelines of the conference. (Photo by Ryo Nakamura)
Indo-Pacific

Philippines to step up ties with U.S.-Japan-Australia coalition

New defense arrangement includes cooperation in South China Sea

3 June 2023
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives the keynote address for the 20th IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Indo-Pacific

No U.S.-China talks risks 'devastating' outcomes: Australian PM

Albanese calls for dialogue between the two powers in Shangri-La keynote address

2 June 2023
New Zealand Defense Minister Andrew Little tells Nikkei his country has an interest in eventually cooperating with the U.S., U.K. and Australia in technologies that might lead to breaking encryptions. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Indo-Pacific

New Zealand interested in AUKUS cooperation in non-nuclear tech

Defense chief says country eyeing cybersecurity, AI, quantum computing

2 June 2023
State-owned Bank of China has applied for a commercial operating license in Papua New Guinea, pledging to play a role in revitalizing the economy.
Indo-Pacific

Bank of China chairman visits PNG amid Sino-U.S. rivalry

Trip follows island nation's defense pact with Washington

2 June 2023
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
Australia's foreign policy moved from a "pragmatic" position of not choosing sides to effectively going all-in with the American view that China is a threat.
Opinion

Australia's defense review can't take the place of security strategy

Potential impact of ambitious arms programs undefined

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
U.S. President Joe Biden, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a Quad meeting on the sidelines of the G-7 summit on May 20.
G-7 in Japan

Quad agrees to bolster submarine cables in 47-minute summit

4 leaders squeeze in meeting between G-7 sessions and dinner on Saturday

21 May 2023
China closed its doors to Australian timber imports in 2020 amid growing tensions over COVID-19.
Trade

China resumes imports of Australian timber in sign of thaw

Uncertainties remain over Beijing's restrictions on barley, wine and more

19 May 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in San Diego on March 13.
Indo-Pacific

Quad meeting in Australia canceled as U.S. politics pull Biden home

White House faces 'damage control' as debt talks also nix president's trip to PNG

17 May 2023
Joe Biden still plans to depart on Wednesday for a Group of Seven leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan. He plans to return to the U.S. on Sunday after the summit. 
Indo-Pacific

Biden cancels Quad visit to Australia to focus on debt limit talks

Historic Papua New Guinea trip also off the table in diplomatic setback

17 May 2023
A Lockheed Martin missile is showcased at a U.S. Army expo in Huntsville, Alabama in March: While America still leads in many areas of technological innovation, it is not the sole source of cutting-edge advances.
Opinion

U.S. technology controls fail to account for Pacific allies

Shift from outdated mindset needed to support collective regional security

15 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
The Virginia-class USS North Dakota is seen in this photo provided by the U.S. Navy. The United States intends to sell Australia three Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines in the early 2030s.
Politics

Australia expands defense budget ahead of submarines purchase

Canberra lifts nuclear ambitions in light of China's growing heft in Indo-Pacific

9 May 2023
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong addresses the National Press Club in Canberra on April 17.
International relations

Australia seeks to rebalance ties with China after three-year freeze

Foreign minister says Canberra must 'lower the heat' on potential Taiwan conflict

23 April 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
From left, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in San Diego, California on March 13.
Opinion

AUKUS is a bad deal for Australia

Despite great cost, Canberra runs real risk of never getting its submarines

20 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
The Australian parliament passed legislation on March 30 to force the nation's biggest greenhouse gas polluters to reduce their emissions or pay for carbon credits. 
Climate Change

Albanese's emissions bill seeks to end Australia's 'climate wars'

Law seen as necessary, but industry groups unlikely to give in just yet

9 April 2023