The Pacific Banking Forum

The first Pacific Banking Forum in July 2024 sought to enhance banking relationships in the Pacific but efforts to reduce reliance on Chinese banking influence in the region are complicated by the exploitative economic ties between Pacific Island Countries and China.

Young people are key to Pacific prosperity

Young people in the Pacific are vital to the continuing development of their nations’ environments, economies, society, and cultures.

Tackling Pacific misinformation

There needs to be stronger communications between governments and media across the Pacific to reduce the spread of misinformation.

Fixing the Pacific’s debanking crisis

The withdrawal of major banks from Pacific islands poses significant socio-economic risks to the region, prompting intervention by Australia, the US and New Zealand.

Women and development in the Pacific

Progressing gender equality and Indigenous advancement share common themes around agency, leadership, and shared decision-making—but better connections can be made between these two priority areas of Australia’s international engagement.

We must defend Taiwan

A clear commitment by the West to defend Ukraine would have spared Europe three years of war, and its time for a similar pledge to protect Taiwan from China’s imperial ambitions and deter a war in the Pacific.

Women hold the key to Pacific elections

In a busy year of Pacific Island elections, the role of female voters may be more important than ever.

Universities and the blue Pacific

We’ve had plenty of panda diplomacy, wine diplomacy and rugby diplomacy in recent years, and perhaps a little university diplomacy could see Australia improve its standing in the Pacific.

The good, the bad and the ugly

America’s Congress cannot play games with funding of initiatives in the Pacific. Nor can policymakers merely continue with existing and outdated programs. Too much is at stake.

Crime waves

Economic diversification is exposing Pacific islands countries to new criminal threats, according to the latest report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

All’s not well with the Pacific mobility labour scheme

As Australia seeks to press reset on its relationship with Pacific neighbours, centring the voice, rights, needs and priorities of Pacific countries regarding the PALM scheme will be crucial to maintaining stability and mutual respect in the region.

Buying friends and influencing people

The Solomon Islands election will be watched closely by both Beijing and Washington, and test the success of China’s policy of buying political influence in the region.