The Pacific power game

The island states of the Pacific – from large Papua New Guinea to the smaller island states like Tuvalu – find themselves in a newly influential position as the west and China battle for their strategic backing.

Supporting national security in the Pacific

Working with Pacific island countries’ national security strategies would ensure that Australia has a clear understanding of Pacific peace and security at the local and regional levels, both now and into the future.

Resilience and traditional culture in the Pacific

Traditional ways helped people in the Pacific survive the economic problems of the COVID pandemic, and future development should also complement the Pacific way and uplift the “mana” of Pacific peoples, rather than aim to replace it.

China’s shadow falls across the Pacific

The mollifying words coming out of Beijing cannot mask the acceleration of its plan to establish ever greater political, economic and military power across the South Pacific.

Countering hybrid threats in the Indo-Pacific

The creation of an Indo-Pacific hybrid threat centre would build broader situational awareness on the hybrid threats growing across the region.

Reaching out to the people of the South Pacific

While China woos the leaders of the South Pacific, Australia’s great counter-offer is to the region’s people.

Labor takes the reigns in a dangerous decade

Anthony Albanese’s incoming Labor government faces a difficult, but not insurmountable, set of diplomatic and defence challenges in safeguarding Australia from external threats in the coming decade.

China’s Pacific offensive

China is looking to sign another 10 ‘security’ agreements with Pacific states in the wake of its controversial deal with the Solomons, tightening its grip on the region despite Australia’s best efforts to stem the tide.

Naval lessons from the Black Sea

The sinking of Russia’s flagship and the ongoing humiliation of its navy in the Black Sea by Ukrainian drones and missiles offers lessons for navies in the Pacific, not least in offering clues to counter China’s naval aggression.

Why did the Solomon Islands turn to China?

Debate rages on Solomon Islands-China security pact and its implications for regional security. Why did Solomon Islands turn to China?

Kevin Rudd on the Solomons crisis

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd says China’s security deal with Solomon Islands was a ‘politically illiterate’ move on the part of Beijing.

Fixing Australia’s Pacific policy

Australia needs more of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s fighting spirit, rather than apologists for Chinese aggression or ‘smart brains’ set on managing Australia’s Pacific decline.