Diverging regional priorities at the Pacific Islands Forum

Pacific Island leaders are likely to assert their interests at the expense of Australia’s at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru.

Finding Australia’s soft power

Australia must engage neighbouring nations more strategically through official and public diplomacy if it is to remain a ‘persuasive voice’ in its own region.

Power plays in the Pacific

As the most recent signatory to China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, Papua New Guinea is increasingly turning to Beijing for investment and aid funding instead of traditional partners like Australia.

International Centre for Democratic Partnerships (ICDP) officially launches

After ten months of operations, ICDP is well and truly up and running.

Getting realistic about the South Pacific

There are plenty of new ideas about boosting engagement with the South Pacific, but steadiness, consistency and a good dose of respect will serve Australia best in the long term.

Don’t divert foreign aid spending to drought relief

Moving aid money to drought relief presents a simplistic and flawed solution that would diminish Australia’s influence in the Pacific region.

French classes in Australia need to acknowledge our Pacific neighbours

We need to change the way French is taught to young Australians to sustain geo-political relations with French-speaking Pacific nations in the future.

Open hands beat clenched fists in the Pacific

A combination of simple and immediate steps, symbolic events that build interpersonal connections and some ‘crazy’ ideas whose time is coming could inspire better relations with our Pacific neighbours than fearful policies couched in the language of risk and competition.

Mice that roar: patrol and coastal combatants in ASEAN

ASPI’s border security program has released a special report which explores the diverse approaches to maritime sovereignty in the region and the implications for Australian policymakers.

Pivoting to the Pacific

China’s growing power in the Pacific has provoked a flurry of action from democratic nations in response, but how do the aid numbers add up? New research from the Lowry Institute makes sense of the data.

ICANN At-Large Advisory Committee elects a new Chair

The new Chair-Elect of ALAC, Maureen Hilyard from the Cook Islands, talks about her selection process and the work of the committee on regional internet issues.

Ham and eggs: who’s really committed in the Indo-Pacific?

When you cook bacon and eggs, you know the chicken is interested but the pig is committed. The same could be said about the Pacific region. Some nations are committed. Others have an interest, but only in those areas that deliver outcomes to their specific national objectives.