Manasseh Sogavare,who alarmed Australian officials by aligning his nation closer to Beijing,will not run for another term as Solomon Islands prime minister.
An elite Fijian police unit working with Australia and New Zealand to fight surging drug trafficking in the Pacific may have been compromised by a powerful criminal syndicate.
Despite a patchy track record,including allegations of bribery,the Beijing-backed company is delivering a major project for the tiny Pacific nation,which is a major focus in the competition for influence in the region.
The federal government has flagged it wants to expand options for foreigners to serve in the Defence Force,with Pacific Island recruits top of the list.
The suspect’s identification by intelligence agencies raises big questions for one of Australia’s neighbours and about China’s attempts to wield influence in the Pacific.
Fiji’s prime minister has called on China to retreat from the South Pacific as an investigation by The Age,The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes uncovers a police sting showing Beijing’s desire to operate overseas.
Amit Gupta’s home was raided,had his phones tapped and then he was gone. Now authorities can’t get him back.
While authorities watched on,key politicians accepted millions in largesse from an Australian company.
Three Pacific leaders have warned they may be forced to turn to China for financial support because their oldest and closest ally,the United States,is unreliable.
The Albanese government is confident Tuvalu will continue with a landmark climate and security pact struck with Australia last year,after electing a new leader.
In the first address to parliament by a Pacific leader,James Marape said PNG wanted to end its dependence on foreign aid.