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Pacific Forum

The latest news and top stories on Pacific Forum. A prominent Honolulu, Hawaii-based non-profit foreign policy research institute, Pacific Forum is dedicated to enhancing mutual understanding trust and promoting peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. Founded in 1975, its main areas of activity include conducting policy-relevant research and fostering dialogue on political security economic and business issues. The institute collaborates with a network of research organisations across the Pacific Rim. Pacific Forum is recognised for its significant contributions to public policy and strategic stability in the region.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown speaks at a Pacific Islands Forum meeting in 2024. Photo: AP

Pacific nations

Cook Islands PM re-elected despite row with New Zealand over China ties

The result shows that local voters are not as concerned about geopolitical issues as claimed in earlier reports, analysts say.

18 Aug 2026 - 5:32PMvideocam

Vietnam

Vietnam’s warship project signals modernisation, bamboo diplomacy balance

13 Aug 2026 - 5:19PM

Pacific nations

China’s missile test exposes lack of unity among Pacific island nations

22 Jul 2026 - 10:00AM

Pacific nations

Australia, Fiji and now New Zealand: a new Pacific alliance takes shape

Wellington’s bid to join the pact flags a hard-security pivot, but analysts ask if such treaties serve Pacific societies’ best interests.

15 Jul 2026 - 3:45PM

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka (right) before the Ocean of Peace Alliance signing on July 6. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Vanuatu bans ‘foreign’ military bases in new security pact with Australia

The treaty is the latest in a string of Pacific deals Australia has signed seeking to curb China’s expanding security influence.

29 Jun 2026 - 12:44PM

Vietnam

Vietnam, Philippines to forge stronger ‘alignment’ on 50 years of ties

Analysts say To Lam’s first visit to Manila as state leader signals Vietnam’s balanced foreign policy and investment in Asean partnerships.

29 May 2026 - 7:18PM

Yuan

How Australia’s mining giants are helping China to globalise the yuan

Mining firms are increasingly using the yuan for financing and settlements, as China pushes to reduce its reliance on the US dollar.

13 May 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Cranes unload bauxite ore imported from Australia at a port in China’s eastern Shandong province. Photo: Reuters

Pacific nations

Pacific Islanders skip food, medicine amid global fuel shortage from Iran war

Pacific nations are the most reliant on diesel for power generation worldwide. They imported about 2.2 million tonnes of fuel in 2025.

22 Apr 2026 - 9:37AM

US, Israel war on Iran

Trump’s ex-China mineral-alliance plan faces cost surge amid Iran war oil shock

Analysts say Middle East turmoil is elevating commodity input costs, affecting processing efforts and prompting push for ‘friendshoring’ to secure resources.

2 Apr 2026 - 8:00PM

China’s military drills

China’s military cracks down on training ‘fakery’ after Zhang Youxia’s ousting

PLA plans to crack down on ‘fakery that undermines combat capability’, soon after top generals placed under corruption investigation.

6 Feb 2026 - 8:49PMvideocam

The PLA plans to tackle “deep-seated problems” with its training and drills. Photo: Xinhua

China-Australia relations

Why China ties make Darwin Port a bigger test for Australia than Panama

Legal constraints and stronger Beijing-Canberra relations among factors limiting Albanese administration’s options, analysts say.

3 Feb 2026 - 1:58PMvideocam

Beijing has pledged to step in if Canberra commits to regaining control of Darwin Port in northern Australia, which is leased to a Chinese firm. Photo: Handout

China trade

China bets big on copper processing, but ‘weaponisation’ risks are low: analysts

Beijing views copper as critical for EVs and AI, but a reliance on imported ore limits China’s ability to use the strategic metal as leverage.

17 Dec 2025 - 6:00PMvideocam

US-China relations

US denies Indo-Pacific retreat, says aid is being recalibrated to counter China

Washington argues that targeted assistance and partnerships will deepen regional ties and deliver longer-term economic and security gains.

16 Dec 2025 - 6:24AM

China travel

What will China’s travel warnings about the Philippines mean for business ties?

China has issued four travel advisories in five months, but Philippine police say serious crime is down 16.5 per cent this year.

14 Sep 2025 - 2:05PMvideocam

China has issued several travel advisories for the Philippines in recent months, citing safety concerns for nationals. Photo: AFP

Pacific nations

Pacific Islands leaders call for ‘ocean of peace’ but face rough seas at summit

The Pacific Islands Forum has been clouded by allegations that host Solomon Islands did not invite Taiwan to please its close backer.

10 Sep 2025 - 5:18PM

Pacific Islands Forum Secretary-General Baron Waqa receives a gift from a Solomon Islander during the opening ceremony on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

South China Sea

The new ‘norm’? Australia, Philippines stage largest-ever military drills

Exercise Alon comes as Australia and the Philippines deepen their defence partnership in the face of repeated incidents involving China.

20 Aug 2025 - 7:59PM

The Philippines

Philippines in Australia-US drills: the ‘new normal’ in defence cooperation?

Manila’s participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre reflects upgraded ties with Canberra amid anxiety over Trump 2.0 and China, analysts say.

19 Jul 2025 - 11:10AMvideocam

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