Politics

Former Taiwanese Digital Minister Audrey Tang speaks with reporters in Sydney on Aug. 13. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

'Pre-bunking' is key tactic in disinformation fight, says Taiwan's Audrey Tang

Former digital minister says important to warn public to brace for fake news

16 August 2024
Voters wait for a polling station to open to vote during the Solomon Islands elections in the capital Honiara on April 17.
International relations

Pacific island news outlets face government pressure, China influence

Beijing looks to lean on struggling media through financial support, prompting Australian reply

16 August 2024
Kiribati President Taneti Maamau speaks during a plenary session at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Saturday, December 9, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Indo-Pacific

Kiribati election poses test for China-friendly leader

Critics say pivot to Beijing hasn't solved Pacific island nation's core issues

14 August 2024
Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles speaks during a meeting with Canada's Minister of National Defense Bill Blair, not seen, in Vancouver, Canada on Aug. 8. (Photo by The Canadian Press via AP) 
Defense

Australian defense chief defends updated military deal with U.S., U.K.

Biden letter says agreement will allow nuclear material to be given to Australia

9 August 2024
From left: Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hold a news conference at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on Aug. 6.
Indo-Pacific

Australia and U.S. boost defense ties, push missile collaboration

U.S military to increase rotational presence in Australia

7 August 2024
From left, Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pose as they attend a Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Tokyo on July 29.  
International relations

Quad countries agree to expand Indo-Pacific cyber, maritime initiatives

Australia, India, Japan, U.S. 'seriously concerned' about East and South China seas

29 July 2024
Members of the World Trade Organization released an agreement on e-commerce rules following negotiations that began in 2017.
Trade

WTO members reach digital trade deal to ban tariffs on data

Proposed e-commerce rules also cover cybersecurity and regulatory transparency

27 July 2024
U.S. soldiers participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 at Bellows Air Force Station in Hawaii on July 9. (Photo from U.S. Army Pacific Facebook)
Defense

Palau-based radar delayed despite U.S. focus on 2nd island chain

Air Force says construction issues slow project amid funding review

26 July 2024
Coal accounted for 50% of Australia's energy mix in 2022. 
Energy

Australia debates building first nuclear plant ahead of 2025 election

Opposition party pushes alternative to renewables as public opinion shifts

26 July 2024
Major Projects Foundation conducts fieldwork on sunken vessels in Chuuk Lagoon in the Federated States of Micronesia in May. (Major Projects Foundation)
Environment

Pacific nations urge Japan to clean up WWII shipwrecks

Oil leaks put coral reefs, mangroves and fisheries at risk, researcher warns

22 July 2024
Pacific Islands leaders gathered in Tokyo for PALM10 to discuss various issues, from security to climate change. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Interview

PALM10: Pacific leaders discuss China, trade, and climate change

Triennial gathering provides chance for Japan to deepen ties with strategic region

21 July 2024
The 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM10) was held in Tokyo from July 16-18. First held in Tokyo in 1997, the summit-level meeting takes place every three years.
20 July 2024
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters (Photo by Takuya Fujiwara) 
Indo-Pacific

New Zealand foreign minister calls for 'more compromise' on New Caledonia

Comments on territory in Japan speech spark response from French envoy

19 July 2024
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo tells Nikkei Asia on July 18 that he is aware that pressure from China is "forthcoming." (Photo by Takuya Fujisawa)
Interview

Tuvalu welcomes subsea cable but worries about possible China cyberattack

Japan to provide equipment to counter 'forthcoming' threat

19 July 2024
Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting participants pose during their summit in Tokyo on July 18. (Photo by Yuki Kohara)
Indo-Pacific

Japan, Pacific islands to boost security ties as China's influence grows

Summit cites 'increasing complexity' of geopolitics, though views of Beijing differ

18 July 2024
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomes Tuvalu counterpart Feleti Teo ahead of talks in Tokyo on July 16. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Japan, Pacific island nations agree to boost ties ahead of summit

Leaders expected to exchange views on climate change, maritime issues

16 July 2024
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. speaks to Nikkei Asia in Tokyo on July 16. (Photo by Takuya Fujiwara)
Interview

Palau says China exerting 'new level' of pressure

President cites rejection of delegation to Macao and suspect cyber assault

16 July 2024
The fifth Interim Ministerial Meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting convenes in Suva, Fiji, on Feb. 12. (Source photos by Kyodo)
International relations

10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting: 5 things to know

Three-day meeting is latest step in Japan's deeper engagement to counter China

16 July 2024
Toyota's electric vehicle bZ4X was on display last August at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show. Japanese carmakers have long dominated the Indonesian market.
Your Week in Asia

China 'third plenum' meeting, ADB economic outlook, Indonesia Auto Show

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

14 July 2024
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw speaks about the arrest of an Australian Army private and her husband, who are accused of spying for Russia, in Canberra on July 12. (Australian Federal Police via AP)
International relations

Australia arrests couple in alleged Russia-linked espionage plot

Authorities warn of more foreign agents seeking to infiltrate public bodies

12 July 2024
Indo-Pacific partners will launch new joint projects on Ukraine, AI, disinformation and cybersecurity.
Indo-Pacific

NATO to launch 4 projects with Indo-Pacific partners, including AI and cyber

Global 'arsenal of democracy' will help allies adapt to shifting security landscape

10 July 2024
A U.S. soldier inspects a Patriot missile defense battery near Warsaw in 2015. Precision munitions and air defense are seen as key areas of need as NATO looks to expand defense industrial cooperation. (Agencja Gazeta via Reuters)
Indo-Pacific

NATO to expand defense industrial cooperation to Indo-Pacific

Alliance aims to tap production capacity of South Korea, Japan and Australia

9 July 2024
A Switchblade drone strikes a target at sea. (Australian Department of Defence)
Defense

Australia to purchase U.S.-made 'killer drones'

Adoption of armed drones by Canberra has been slow, expert says

8 July 2024
NATO is forming a closer relationship with four key Indo-Pacific nations to counter perceived security threats from China and Russia.  
Indo-Pacific

NATO to up security links with Japan, South Korea, Australia, NZ

Atlantic military alliance will issue joint cooperation document next week

4 July 2024
The Australian government has contracted with Amazon Web Services to provide "top-secret" cloud storage, citing the U.S. company's capabilities. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by AP)
Defense

Australia taps Amazon for $1.3bn 'top secret' cloud storage system

Local arm of U.S tech giant to run data centers for military and intelligence

4 July 2024