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Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Papua New Guinea. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Capital
Port Moresby
Head of State
King Charles III
Head of Government
Prime Minister James Marape
A toll booth at the Clark Freeport Zone in the Philippines, a sprawling managed economic zone that has received significant US backing through development initiatives. Photo: Handout
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.

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China-Australia relations

Call for ‘Pacific Eyes’ intelligence body to offset China’s growing presence

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Pope Leo XIV

Nuns, teen influencer and ex-Satanic priest among 7 new saints

Australia

What Australia’s ‘Pukpuk’ pact with Papua New Guinea means for the Pacific

While China has voiced misgivings, the pact is seen as necessary by some – even if it could draw Australia into PNG’s domestic conflicts.

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The flags of Australia and Papua New Guinea are displayed on a desk at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday. Photo: AFP
Australia

Will Australia’s defence pact with Papua New Guinea curb China’s Pacific sway?

The defence treaty strengthens ties, counters China’s influence, and offers PNG citizens a path to Australian citizenship.

Diplomacy

Opinion | Apec offers a stage for China, US and two Koreas to make peace

With Trump and Xi set to attend, it could pave the way for a US-North Korea summit and mend China-South Korea ties.

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Australia

Australia to ‘upgrade’ defence ties with PNG as China’s Pacific influence grows

The deal will allow the nations’ citizens to serve in either military, with Australia offering citizenship as an incentive.

Australian soldiers talk to Papua New Guinea’s defence minister and other officials during a visit to Brisbane earlier this year. Photo: Australian Defence Force/AFP
Indonesia

Indonesia, US start 13-nation ‘Super Garuda Shield’ military drills

More than 4,100 Indonesian and 1,300 American troops will take part in this year’s ‘largest ever’ drills, aimed at boosting deterrence.

Pacific nations

Australia, US push Pacific deterrence amid China’s security overtures

Analysts note the significance of Papua New Guinea and Fiji’s unprecedented involvement in this year’s ‘Olympics of war games’.

Australia

Australia’s largest-ever military drill under way, Chinese spy ships expected

Chinese military have observed these biennial exercises since 2017, but this year’s drills coincide with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China.

Australian and US HIMARS rockets are launched during the firepower demonstration as part of the Talisman Sabre 2025 joint military exercises on Monday. Photo: EPA
Pacific nations

‘Glassman’ jailed: PNG hopes ruling can curb tribal sorcery violence

After a horrific machete killing, a landmark ruling in Papua New Guinea aims to curb deadly sorcery accusations driven by jealousy and greed.

Neighbours gather near the home of a 55-year-old mother of two in the Tsak Valley in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea after she was accused of sorcery and tortured. Photo: AFP
Pacific nations

Pacific nation’s Facebook blackout tied to content ‘control’ experiment

Meta’s Facebook and Messenger remained inaccessible to users in Papua New Guinea on Tuesday, over 24 hours after mysteriously going offline.

Australia

Will Australia use PNG defence deal as a ‘watchtower’ to track Chinese navy?

While the pact aims to strengthen Canberra’s regional leadership, it could also be utilised to monitor Chinese naval activity in the Pacific.

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Australia

Australia seals Papua New Guinea security deal with eye on China

The agreement comes just days after Canberra signed a similar treaty with the small Pacific nation of Nauru.

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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) shakes hands with Papua New Guinea’s leader James Marape during a press conference in Sydney on Thursday. Photo: AFP
Pacific nations

Rebel region vows to become Pacific’s newest nation by 2027

Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, voted to secede from Papua New Guinea five years ago after a bloody decade-long war.

A bustling waterway in Bougainville’s capital Buka pictured in 2019. Photo: AFP
Australia

As Chinese banks circle, Australia pushes ANZ to stay in Pacific island nations

For years, Western banks have been closing branches throughout the South Pacific. State-owned Bank of China has shown it’s eager to step in.

Pope Francis

Video | Pope Francis tours one of the world's most remote areas

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Pacific nations

Pope calls for PNG to ‘end’ tribal violence, urges fair share of its resources

In a keynote speech, the pope called for an end to tribal violence while insisting the people benefit from the country’s resource boom.

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Pope Francis gives a speech in front of diplomats and dignitaries including the Governor General of Papua New Guinea Bob Dadae. Photo: EPA-EFE
Indonesia

Video | Pope praises Indonesians for choosing children over pets

Asia

Video | Indonesian Catholics in tears as pope visits Jakarta

UAE

Pope heads to Southeast Asia in ambitious trip

Pope Francis’ visit aims to cement the Catholic Church’s position in the region and comes despite his growing health problems.

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Pope Francis will visit four countries in Southeast Asia starting next week. Photo: Reuters
Pacific nations

Australia pushes Pacific police force proposal to check China’s ambitions

Pacific leaders endorsed on Wednesday a plan creating a 200-officer police force to address security challenges and limit China’s reach.

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Solomons Islands police receive training from Chinese liaison officers in 2022. Photo: Royal Solomon Islands Police Force/Handout via AFP
Australia

Opinion | Aukus is a setback for Australia’s hard-fought independence

Years after Curtin stood up to Churchill and Keating rejected the “US deputy” label, Australia seems to have lost its backbone.

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Architecture and design

How the other half travel: in their own flat aboard mega-yacht The World

Residents mostly spend a few months at a time aboard, visiting their pick of the more than 100 ports the ship visits in a year – and perhaps making plans to change the wallpaper ahead of their next visit

Australia

Australia PM replaces immigration, national security ministers after scandals

PM Anthony Albanese has moved Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil and Immigration Minister Andrew Giles into new portfolios.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese speaks to media during a press conference in Canberra. Photo: dpa
Japan

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

Among the areas of concern highlighted by Pacific island nations was Japan’s release of treated radioactive water.

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Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (bottom row, second from left) and other participants of the 10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting in Tokyo pose for a photo on Thursday. Photo: Kyodo
Australia

Australia urged to act as refugee health crisis intensifies in Papua New Guinea

A report by an asylum seeker support group found one-fifth of the remaining refugees are “so unwell their lives were at imminent risk”.

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Chinese history

Taiwan human skeletons suggest indigenous tribes chewed betel nuts 2,500 years ago

A pair of ancient bones found in Taiwan featured red stains on their teeth, which experts say is proof of betel nut consumption.

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