The ASPI and ROI held a two day conference with the media, members of parliament and government discussing misinformation, disinformation and the challenges and opportunities facing Pacific Island governments. Click on the link to read more shorturl.at/akBFP

#Tonga

Exciting collaboration, to have partnered with ASPI to deliver workshops on Disinformation & Misinformation. Our 2 day workshop included Media, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament and CEOs.

#Tonga #ROI #ROI Tonga

Parties sign coalition agreement as lobbying to form new gov’t underway

indepthsolomons.com.sb/parties-sign-c…

“The 🇦🇺 government should invest in supporting greater conversations and the sharing of experiences between Pacific governments on infrastructure projects,” Blake Johnson tells The Age as concerns grow over a delayed port project in 🇳🇷.

Read more ⤵️ theage.com.au/politics/feder…

I have great regard for the authors of this piece, but I can't support its premise, or the proposed solution. 🧵

Why Chinese policing in Pacific island countries is a problem | Blake Johnson | bit.ly/3Ix9xu3

And if Charlie and Kathryn aren’t enough to convince American friends, my ASPI colleagues Blake Johnson and Greg Brown have also weighed in on COFA: nationalinterest.org/feature/china-…

'Each day, without a commitment to the Compact agreement funding, long-term confidence in the United States is undermined', write Blake Johnson and Gregory S. Brown in National Interest on US funding delays for Pacific Island nations.

Read more 👇
nationalinterest.org/feature/china-…

Pleased to share the government's statement of priorities. Of particular interest to our partners in the region is the reaffirmation of our relations with Taiwan and our position on the Falepili Treaty with Australia.

As expected, Teo elected as the next PM of Tuvalu. An experienced hand who has held leadership positions in several regional organisations. Australia probably relieved: Teo was also on the eminent persons panel which helped deliver Falepili Union ie likely well disposed to it?

Australia must stay engaged during Pacific island countries’ political instability and change | Blake Johnson and Euan Graham | bit.ly/3T3yweC

🎙️ NEW PODCAST 🎙️

In this episode of the ASPI podcast:

1⃣ david wroe hosts a discussion with Nathan Ruser and Lucas Myers on the latest developments from Myanmar
2⃣ david wroe, Blake Johnson and Euan Graham discuss geopolitics in the Pacific and what to expect in 2024.…

For those keeping count

1) Chinese Embassy in Fiji puts out newspaper advertisement on Taiwan

2) Taiwan's diplomats in Fiji issue statement rejecting said ad

3) Chinese Embassy issues its own statement scolding Taiwan reps for issuing statement rejecting its advertisement

How PRC companies influence diplomatic switches from Taiwan in the Pacific | Henryk Szadziewski, Graeme Smith 史林, Daria Impiombato and TarcisiusKabutaulaka | bit.ly/3uw6wqy

Leaked emails show China interfering in Solomons media indepthsolomons.com.sb/leaked-emails-… via In-depth Solomons

My piece on the great work of women journalists in the Pacific.

1/ AI-generated avatars👤, fake paternity tests⚕️, 'leaked' documents 📄and everything else the CCP tried spamming to manipulate the Taiwan 2024 elections.

⚠️A thread on what ASPI observed and a warning for other democracies this year:

aspistrategist.org.au/as-taiwan-vote…

PNG gives green light for Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service abc.net.au/pacific/progra…

Australia pledges $100 million for the PRF and $50 million for the GCF (these are the announcements which we were expecting at PIF, but which were clearly held for COP instead)

Key excerpts of the new Australia-PNG security agreement, at first glance. They've agreed if there is a 'security-related development' that threatens either country 'or the Pacific region' they shall 'consult' at request, and 'consider whether any measures should be taken' 1/