Politics

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
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
Joe Biden departs after speaking about a national security initiative at the White House in September 2021: The main aim of AUKUS is to elevate the intelligence and deterrent value of conventional capabilities.
Opinion

AUKUS is not an alliance for nuclear deterrence

Pact is really about strategic sharing of technology to protect open seas

15 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
Queen Elizabeth II passes onlookers in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 23, 1972.
International relations

Queen Elizabeth's soft power in Asia went beyond the Commonwealth

New U.K. King Charles III faces struggle to match mother's ties in region

13 September 2022
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at a civic ceremony in New Delhi during the Royal Tour of India, circa January 1961.
International relations

Legacy of decency: Asian leaders pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

Monarch was frequent visitor to region during her 70-year reign

9 September 2022
U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participate in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity launch event in Tokyo on May 23. 
Indo-Pacific

Indo-Pacific nations to agree on better supply chain communication

IPEF draft statement for Sept. 8-9 meeting also includes push for clean energy

4 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 Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Maine at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor in Washington in June 2021. Nuclear-powered submarines provide the most survivable leg of America's nuclear triad.
Indo-Pacific

AUKUS submarines: A burden too big for overloaded U.S. shipyards

Rear admiral says more work would be 'detrimental' to overstretched industry

1 September 2022
Anthony Albanese is in a unique position to launch a new era of personal diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
Opinion

Australia must seize chance to reset relations with ASEAN states

Country can leave behind image as 'America's deputy sheriff' with better outreach

1 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
Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape speaks in parliament after he was sworn in for his second term in Port Moresby on August 9.
Politics

Papua New Guinea PM faces uncertain future after election disarray

Marape expected to take protectionist stance on foreign investment

23 August 2022
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's support has dropped off considerably since 2021.
Politics

Inflation and lockdowns hurt New Zealand's ruling party in polls

Once a COVID success story, PM Ardern's camp trails opposition ahead of 2023 election

23 August 2022
The Pitch Black exercise marks the first Indo-Pacific deployment for Germany's mainstay Eurofighter jets.
Indo-Pacific

Australia-led air force exercise begins with German aircraft

Drill aimed at countering China's growing military footprint in region

19 August 2022
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has emotionally dedicated his first term to recognizing Australia's Indigenous population in the nation's constitution. (Source photos by EPA/Jiji and Reuters)  
Politics

Australia split on recognizing Indigenous people in constitution

Diverse opinions among First Nation groups reflect complexity of issue

19 August 2022
A Eurofighter, painted with the flags of Australia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, refuels with the help of an Airbus A330.
Indo-Pacific

German Air Force shows it can be in Asia in a day

Taiwan issue serves as a wake-up call to European powers

16 August 2022
A Eurofighter Typhoon jet of the German Air Force stands at the air base in Neuburg an der Donau, Germany on July 22. Six Eurofighter jets took off from here on Monday. 
Indo-Pacific

German fighter jets head to Australia in shift for Indo-Pacific

Deployment includes detours to Japan and South Korea

16 August 2022
The Mount Weld rare-earths mine in Western Australia. Shares of Lynas Rare Earths, which owns the mine, are at the highest point in about four months.
Supply Chain

Rare-earth prices fall on supply increase and China auto slowdown

Beijing loses leverage of once potent export ban despite rising tensions with Washington

13 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
A firefighter works to douse a fire in a building, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Mykolaiv, in this handout picture released on July 31. 
Ukraine war: Free to read

Ukraine from July 8 to Aug. 1: Russian strikes kill Ukrainian grain tycoon

Grain ship leaves port of Odesa, Ukrainian minister says; Gazprom cuts gas to Latvia

1 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
Kawasaki Heavy's Suiso Frontier delivered the world's first cargo of liquefied hydrogen from Australia to Japan earlier this year. (Photo by Atsushi Ooka)
Energy

Quad members agree to promote hydrogen, ammonia fuel tech

Ukraine war underscores importance of clean energy security

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