04/04/2023 Newsletter

Happenings in Congress

• The House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific held its first hearing. The hearing was on the Pacific Islands and all six co-chairs of the Pacific Islands Caucus participated.
• Former Malaita Premier (and noted China critic) gets bipartisan support for U.S. Visa – Daniel Suidani, the recently ousted Premier of Malaita in the Solomon Island received bipartisan backing for his visa application, after the original application was denied by the State Department.
• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 International Affairs Budget Request. The Budget request included $7.1 billion for the renewal of the Compacts of Free Association. 

In the News

• U.S. to open embassy in Vanuatu as it seeks to counter China in the Pacific – The United States has announced that it will be opening three new embassies in the Pacific Islands region this year with plans to open embassies in Tonga and Kiribati.
• Outgoing President of Micronesia accuses China of bribery, threats and interference - President David Panuelo released a letter which alleges that China is engaging in “political warfare” in the Pacific. He also made statements in support of reestablishing diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
• World Bank opens new north Pacific office – The World Bank has opened a new regional office in Pohnpei that will deliver aid to the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Palau.
• Australian nuclear submarine program to cost up to $368 billion as AUKUS details unveiled in the U.S. – Australian PM Albanese, UK PM Sunak, and President Biden met in San Diego last month unveiled the details of the AUKUS agreement. There will be two pillars of the agreement; the first on nuclear submarine development, and the second on tech sharing between the countries.
• Pacific nations push for fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty – Six Pacific Island nations (Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Tonga, Fiji, Niue, and the Solomon Islands) are urging all Pacific nations to become fossil-fuel free as soon as possible.
• Chinese state company wins contract to redevelop Solomon Islands port, prompting cautious response – A Chinese state company has been awarded a contract to redevelop the port in Honiara. Samoan PM Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, raised concerns that the commercial port “might morph into something else” and suggested that Pacific countries may have to monitor the situation.

Pacific Voices

• On our playlist this week: Richard Parker – Palusami
• The Strategic Case for New Zealand to Join AUKUS – Dr. Reuben Steff, a professor at the University of Waikato, argues that New Zealand should consider joining the AUKUS agreement, because of Pillar II (advanced technologies); and that New Zealand risks being isolated from its Allies, if it doesn’t seek greater cooperation with Australia, the U.S., or the U.K..