PINA

A drop of Taiwan, a measure of China, makes heady cocktail for next PIF leaders meeting. Commentary by Tess Newton Cain As the 53rd meeting of Pacific Islands Forum leaders drew to a close in Nuku’alofa, there were good reasons for sighs of relief. The host country Tonga pulled together the largest ever PIF meeting, a well-organised and smoothly-run event,...

As host of the COP29 summit, Baku must stop fossil fuel expansion, cut its emissions further, and work to deliver an ambitious climate finance goal By Joseph Zane Sikulu Here is his open letter to Mukhtar Babayev, president-designate of the COP29 UN climate summit, which will take place in November in Baku, Azerbaijan. Dear COP29 President-Designate Babayev, My name is Joseph Sikulu, and...

Women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea has received an enormous boost ahead of the upcoming Pacific Championships with the groundbreaking appointment of Tahnee Norris as Orchids coach. Norris, who last month became one of the first six women's players inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame, will create further history as the only female coach of a major international...

Pacific Islands Forum Leaders will decide at the next Forum Leaders Meeting in Solomon Islands whether to reinstate the Forum Expert Panel on Fukushima, as concerns persist over Japan’s discharge of treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Forum Chair and Tongan Prime Minister, Hu’akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni confirmed that the issue would be discussed at next year’s Forum Leaders Meeting...

Tonga has overcome predictions the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting would be marred by disorganisation or stoushes, all while living up to its 'friendly islands' nickname. The annual Pacific summit of regional leaders wrapped up on Friday following an overnight leaders retreat in Vava'u. Anthony Albanese was one of a handful of leaders to skip that stay, leaving on Thursday night...

Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders have agreed to table the possibility of a Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) candidate for the United Nations Secretary-General position at their next meeting, following a proposal by Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape. The decision signals the MSG’s intent to strengthen the Pacific’s voice on the global stage. In their meeting on the sidelines of...

Forum Chair and Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavemeiliku Siaosi Sovaleni has expressed deep condolences on behalf of Forum members following the passing of Māori King Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII. King Tuheitia, aged 69, died peacefully last week, sending New Zealand into mourning on Friday. “While we were in Vava'u, we received the very sad news of the passing of Māori King...

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders, meeting on the sidelines of the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, have called for a robust and unified approach to key regional issues, particularly the ongoing situation in New Caledonia. Chaired by Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, the MSG Leaders caucus focused on the challenges facing the Melanesian community and reiterated their...

The Pacific Islands Forum secretariat has altered the communique from last week's summit in Tonga to remove an affirming reference to Taiwan, after an outburst from China. In a tumultuous ending to the otherwise largely-harmonious regional gathering in Tonga last week, a clause endorsing Taiwan's status as a "development partner" went missing from the final text. The publication mix-up reveals tension...

Taiwan has signed a cooperation agreement with the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat to continue its ongoing support of the organisation from 2025 to 2027, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced on Sunday. The pact was signed by Deputy Foreign Minister Tien Chung-kwang and a representative from the PIF Secretariat during the annual Taiwan/Republic of China-Forum Countries Dialogue held...