PINA

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has refused to admit his visit to Papua New Guinea is about deterring relationships with China amid its growing influence in the Pacific. China has moved to improve its relationships with several Pacific nations in recent years including a landmark security partnership with the Solomon Islands which caused great concern over the possibility of...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Taipei Taiwan ranks sixth out of 163 countries around the world in overall gender equality and the first in Asia. And women, account for more than 42 percent of the nation’s legislators, well above the world average. “I very much look forward to the day when phrases like “female president” and “woman president” are things...

By Dorothy Wickham; Associate Professor Tarcisius Kabutaulaka, University of Hawaii at Mānoa; Dean Wickham Latrobe University; Hunhak Matt Gale; Dr Debra McDougall, University of Melbourne Last week, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and Australia’s Anthony Albanese met in Canberra for the first time, less than a month after Australia offered to fund Solomon Islands’ elections to avoid delay. Since...

By Anthony Bergin and Grant Newsham When it comes to Australia’s policy in the Pacific islands, what’s first needed is a changed mindset. We need to recognise that the region is key terrain. It’s essential for U.S and Australian defence; it’s not a secondary theatre where we do ‘just enough to keep the locals calm and on side’. What...

The government of Guam has rejected suggestions Washington is behind the United States territory's bid to join the Pacific's peak diplomatic body. Experts say the move would place the U.S "firmly on the inside" of debates about China and other regional matters. The Pacific Islands Forum , which currently has 17 members, is the primary body through which Pacific nations and...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editot in Taipei Taiwan says it will not actively go out of its way to try and persuade two of its former allies in the Pacific - Kiribati and Solomon Islands – to switch diplomatic relations back to Taipei. Both Kiribati and Solomon Islands severed ties with Taiwan in favour of the People’s Republic of China...

The South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu will hold a snap election today with six former prime ministers contesting the poll, after parliament was dissolved in August to avoid a vote of no confidence in the government, said local media. Opposition leader Ralph Regenvanu of the GJP Party has accused Prime Minister Bob Loughman of attempting to make “dangerous amendments”...

Former Fijian star Wise Kativerata has flown to England to take charge of an injury-hit Bati side ahead of their opening World Cup match against Australia after coach Joe Rabele was hospitalised. Kativerata will work alongside his former Parramatta Eels team-mate James Webster and ex-Leeds and Toronto Wolfpack mentor Brian McDermott, while a decision is made on whether Rabele can...

By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Taipei Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen has refused any reunification overtures from Beijing, using her National Day address on Monday to say ‘sovereignty, democracy and freedom’ and NOT war, are the foundation for resuming any constructive interaction across the Taiwan Strait. And, she’s warned her administration will not be intimidated by escalated military operations, diplomatic...

Oceania Rugby confirmed today that the 2022 Oceania Rugby Men's Championship, will be hosted by Papua New Guinea Rugby Union and held in Port Moresby at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on 19-27 October. The tournament returns for the first time since 2019 following a covid induced hiatus and will feature national teams from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and hosts Papua...