China’s growing influence in the Pacific islands region hasn’t ended, but there are signs that it’s slowed, especially on security issues. There’s been progress on the ground to withstand Chinese political warfare. Like-minded countries such as Australia, the …
The first visit to Papua New Guinea by Foreign Minister Penny Wong was probably a success the moment she arrived in Port Moresby. It removed, or at least eased, one longstanding irritant in the Australia–PNG …
Pacific island countries may halt the use of Australian-donated patrol boats with defects including cracking in the coupling between the engine and the gearbox, and a fault in the vessels’ exhaust system. It’s a blow …
The passing of Sir Michael Somare, the first chief minister and the founding prime minister of Papua New Guinea, ends a remarkable political life that began when he was elected to the pre-independence House of …
A telecommunications company that operates in six Pacific island nations has reportedly received approaches from prospective buyers. This news has attracted considerable interest among security experts in Australia. Digicel was established by Irish businessman Denis …
For the past six weeks or more, both the political system and day-to-day government operations of Papua New Guinea have been paralysed by the impact of divisions within the Marape government, and attempts to remove …
With Australia’s relationship with China under great pressure, a project that challenges our strategic national interest has been quietly endorsed by the Papua New Guinea government, as reported by Aaron Smith in The Guardian last …
Since I raised serious questions about the transparency, or lack of it, in Asian Development Bank–funded projects in Papua New Guinea, I have been deluged with highly credible information that highlights not just the failure …
Australia is a founding member of the Asian Development Bank and, since 1966, has directly contributed US$8.5 billion in capital subscriptions, as well as US$2.86 billion to special funds. Our annual subscription this year is …
If Australia’s relationship with China continues to deteriorate, part of Beijing’s response could be to put more effort into challenging our strategic interests in our immediate region—the South Pacific. This is happening already in Papua …
The rapidly deteriorating state of Papua New Guinea’s economy is presenting serious challenges for the PNG government, which is already struggling to finance its 2020 budget. But another factor looms as an equal, if not …
The tough stance taken by Papua New Guinea’s police commissioner on the 48 Chinese workers destined for the Chinese-run Ramu Nickel mine in PNG’s Madang Province gives an opportunity for the Chinese government to explain …
