Sandra Tarte highlights Fiji’s role as a major player in the Pacific Islands and argues that Fiji's “Pacific Zone of Peace” concept is crucial in promoting peace and security in the context of the United States and China's great power rivalry.

apln.network/projects/asia-…

Fiji RFMF and Police provide security support for Solomon Islands election
fijivillage.com/news/RFMF-and-…

Niue developing a National Security Strategy.

I love the small smile from Tonga's Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni when Henry Puna talks about how the Pacific dislikes 'geopolitical games' but is also, ah, keen to capitalise on said geopolitical games

Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Henry Puna brushes off concerns (in Australia) about China providing policing support for the PIF leaders meeting in Tonga: 'let's not be alarmed by outsiders.' It's just 'noise.' Ouch! Australia will not like this framing one bit

🎧Will democracy survive in the Solomon Islands in the wake of its upcoming election? The The Lowy Institute's Dr Meg Keen and Dr Anouk Ride discuss the political and civil instability that may follow the vote.
lowyinstitute.org/publications/p…

Pleased to contribute some comments to Stephen Dziedzic 's article on an internal Tongan Government analysis of Australia and NZ's response to China-Solomon security pact. Timing of the leak not surprising given Canberra's concerns about the recent visit by the Chinese police…

Royal Navy ships transit parts of Pacific nations Exclusive Economic Zones their ships can’t reach. So HMS Spey, HMS Tamar & others are proud to embark Pacific law enforcement, fisheries & other agencies to support them protecting their people, their 🐟 & international law. 🤝🏼

Also curious timing two weeks prior to the national election:
'From April 3 to 6, 2024, Special Envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs of the Chinese Government Qian Bo visited Solomon Islands...During the visit, Special Envoy Qian Bo also made a special trip to Malaita…

“Operation Grapple – We Were There” is a new photography exhibition at the NZ Parliament in Wellington, on show until July at the Te Papakura gallery. Denise Baynham shares Grapple's history with photographs and interviews of 19 NZ nuclear test veterans.
m.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2404…

Calling scholars of New Zealand's place in the world. We are seeking chapter proposals for the next volume of 'New Zealand in World Affairs,' our flagship research publication, published in collaboration with Te Herenga Waka University Press. The deadline is 3 May. See here for…

Curious timing by the Chinese Embassy in Solomon Islands less than 12 days out from the national elections (and in Malaita too).

We cannot let 'Ocean of Peace' become militarized or reduced to rhetoric.

Cook Island needs referendum to decide UN membership - minister rnz.co.nz/international/… Cook Islands Minister of Foreign Affairs Tingika Elikana says a referendum would allow its people to decide whether to join the United Nations and separate from New Zealand.

NEWS📢 Our NZDF contingent tasked with helping out during the Solomon Islands national election has sailed in to the capital Honiara to begin its work.

#Force4NZ nzdf.mil.nz/si-arrival-24

Chinese police team arrives in Tonga to offer assistance for the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in July. Australia believes China remains intent in embedding police / training teams across the Pacific region abc.net.au/news/2024-04-0…

I am pleased to share some thoughts on Chinese influence and interference activities in the Pacific, including recent allegations regarding Zhao Fugang's activities in Fiji
abc.net.au/pacific/progra…

Important insights from Jose L Sousa-Santos on the well known but under-mapped nexus between the Chinese state and transnational criminal actors in the Pacific. That conversation about this issue with officials in Canberra in 2013 seems like a long time ago but now very much in the…