by Richard Butler | 30 Jan 2019 | News
Air Vanuatu will add a third Australian destination to its route network from June when it begins nonstop flights to Melbourne from its Port Vila hub. Read more [...]
by Richard Butler | 29 Jan 2019 | Live & Work
Richard Butler | from Defence Connect | 29 Jan 2019
Angus Campbell, AO, DSC, has travelled to Vanuatu, Tonga, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, building on the Prime Minister’s recent tour of the region to strengthen Australia’s position in the Pacific.
GEN Campbell was accompanied by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Andrew Colvin APM OAM, Commissioner of the Australian Border Force, Michael Outram APM and the Deputy Director-General of the Australian Security Read more [...]
by Richard Butler | 13 Dec 2018 | Live & Work
Richard Butler | RNZ News | 13 Dec 2018
The United States has joined a regional infrastructure development group which offers Pacific countries an alternative to Chinese finance for big projects.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced yesterday the US was adding its expertise and financial clout to the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility (PRIF).
PRIF’s ADB co-ordinator Rob Jauncey said the infrastructure requirements of the Pacific region were upwards of US$3 billlion per annum.
This Read more [...]
by Richard Butler | 17 Aug 2018 | News
Richard Butler | Xinhua | Aug 17th 2018
CHINA finally seems to have completed its coming of age, and now has the power and money to disrupt diplomatic relations around the world.
After decades of taking its neighbours for granted, Australia is starting to wake up to China’s potential to dominate the Pacific region.
The superpower has been splashing its cash and growing its influence in the region at the same time as Australia’s assistance has stalled.
Now some experts warn China Read more [...]
by Richard Butler | 14 Jul 2018 | News
Richard Butler | Stripes.com | July 14th 2018
This year has seen intense scrutiny of Chinese aid to Pacific island countries by the Australian media. The focus of coverage has been on a range of perceived “threats” emanating from China. These include the leverage associated with Pacific Island debt to China, and security and military implications of Chinese-funded infrastructure such as wharf facilities.
For a region accustomed to being ignored by the Australian press, it is a big change Read more [...]
