Domingo I-Kwei Yang SUVA/TAIPEI, 12 AUGUST 2026 (THE DIPLOMAT) —Ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), scheduled to take place 30 August 30 to 04 September in Palau, Pacific Island leaders failed to reach consensus on a joint statement criticising China’s submarine-based ballistic missile testing in the Pacific. The split reflects intensifying great-power competition […]
Tag: China
Posted inWorld News
Taiwan condemns planned Chinese and Indonesian military exercise off its coast
By foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic In short: (ABC-Australia) Taiwan has condemned China’s plan to hold a “navigation exercise” with an Indonesian warship off the island’s east coast. It said it has requested Indonesia “provide further details” after China’s defence ministry announced it would hold the exercise with an Indonesian warship in mid-August. Beijing has […]
Posted inTop Stories
AI-Driven Disinformation Emerging as Growing Threat to Palau, Taiwan VP Warns
By: L.N. Reklai KOROR, Palau (June 10, 2026) — The growing use of artificial intelligence to spread false information is becoming an increasingly serious threat to Palau, with recent attacks targeting local media, public figures and government leaders, prompting renewed calls for stronger cybersecurity and international cooperation. During an interview with Island Times, Taiwan Vice […]
Posted inWorld News
US approves largest ever multi-billion-dollar arms package for Taiwan
Dec. 18, 2025 In short: (ABC-Australia) The US has approved an arms package for Taiwan that includes drones, howitzers and more. Taiwan also plans $60 billion in extra defence spending. What’s next? US-Taiwan arms sales often strain US-China relations. The United States has approved $US11.1 billion ($16.68 billion) in arms sales to Taiwan, the largest […]
Posted inWorld News
China Coast Guard fires water cannon at Philippine fishing vessels in South China Sea, Manila says
Dec. 13, 2025 In short: (ABC-Australia) The Philippine Coast Guard says three fishermen were injured and two boats damaged after being struck by water cannon fired by the China Coast Guard. The clash occurred at Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, well within the Phillipines’ exclusive economic zone. What’s next? China claims as its […]
Posted inPacific News
Policy shift: CNMI governor inclined to revisit China market
SAIPAN, 05 DECEMBER 2025 (PACIFIC ISLAND TIMES) — Gov. David M. Apatang is steering the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands through economic uncertainty with a pragmatic approach to governance. “I’m not perpetually stuck in a single leadership style,” Apatang told the Pacific Island Times. “Different situations call for different ways of doing things.” In […]