PINA

China and the United States could end up in a military conflict if the U.S encourages Taiwan's independence, Beijing's ambassador to Washington, Qin Gang, has said in a U.S radio interview broadcast. China considers the neighbouring, democratically ruled island of Taiwan its "sacred" territory and has never renounced the use of force to ensure eventual unification. "Let me emphasise this. The...

Negotiating from a position of strength Pacific Island nations facing the reality of climate change-induced land loss are using their diplomatic strength to ensure their sovereignty and economic future are protected, Jess Marinaccio writes. Climate change is a central issue throughout the Pacific Island region. The dire effects of sea level rise are already being felt, and Pacific nations...

By Giff Johnson Effective Pacific fisheries monitoring and surveillance coupled with improved data reporting are among reasons cited by a recently released fisheries study that says the problem of illegal fishing in the Pacific is far less than a 2016 report that estimated losses of over US$600 million a year. The new study, by the Australia-based fisheries consulting firm MRAG Asia...

Cook Islands has earned a direct entry into the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification tournament in Qatar in March after Tonga pulled out following the large volcanic eruption and tsunami which struck the island nation on 15 January. The national team was scheduled to play Tonga in the qualifiers match for a place in the group stage of the competition...

Current and former WHO staff are seeking an investigation and decision from WHO's executive board, raising fundamental questions over the leadership of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) director, Dr Takeshi Kasai. They claim his leadership style has impacted the work culture of the regional office so much that it has affected COVID-19 delivery to the...

Humanitarian aid to Tonga is ramping up after the airport was cleared of ash, making it safe for planes to land, the Red Cross said on Wednesday, days after a volcanic eruption and tsunami devastated the South Pacific archipelago. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said that with the extra supplies, its staff and volunteers...

Authorities in Tonga are working with local telecommunications companies to expand network capacity in the kingdom following a volcanic eruption and tsunami. Three people were killed in the disaster which has impacted tens of thousands in Tonga. Water, food and shelter are still the priority in the recovery with at least 150 people from the most affected outer islands relocated to...

Tongans on the ground are doing what they can to help one another in the wake of the volcano disaster. Director of Tonga's Women and Children's Crisis Centre Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki said the country has avoided a “bigger chaos” by keeping COVID-19 at bay so far. “We're taking precautions because we have very limited health resources,” she said. “We could have had a...

The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing an additional US$2.5 million in humanitarian assistance to support people affected by volcanic eruptions and tsunami waves in Tonga. On 15 January, Tonga’s Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano began erupting. A strong second eruption triggered tsunami waves that reached Tonga and many other Pacific Island countries. The eruptions...

Marian Tukuafu couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the damage a huge tsunami wreaked on her once-pristine beachfront resort on Tonga's main island. “It's like a bomb hit this place, it's like a war zone,” Tukuafu told Pacific Beat. She managed to evacuate Vakaloa Beach Resort on the western coast of Tongatapu moments before the tsunami hit on 15 January. While...