06/22/2023 Newsletter

Happenings in Congress

• The House Natural Resources Committee’s Indo-Pacific Taskforce held a hearing, entitled “Preserving U.S. Interests in the Indo-Pacific: Examining How U.S. Engagement Counters Chinese Influence in the Region.” The Committee heard testimony about and examined the U.S. engagement with the Pacific Islands.
• The Pacific Islands Caucus hosted a roundtable with Pacific Islands Ambassadors on Tuesday the 13th. Members of Congress discussed issues in the region and the broader Indo-Pacific with the Ambassadors.
• The House Appropriations Committee released its draft State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. It includes $175 million for the Pacific Islands region.

In the News

• With Visit to China, Blinken Clears a Diplomatic Path – The visit of Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Beijing shows that the administration is keen to reignite diplomacy and inject some stability to its dealings with China.
• US Military Granted Unimpeded Access to Key Papua New Guinea Defense Facilities in New Security Agreement – The US will be able to ‘stage and deploy’ troops and vessels from 6 key facilities.
• Palau Leader Stresses Need for US help to Deter China's assertive move in the Pacific – The plea for help is in response to the “unwanted” activities from China.
• Islands Embrace Solidarity to Address Collective Challenges – The Senior Economic Advisor for the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Denton Rarawa, noted that “It is inherent, therefore, for us to seize this opportunity to strengthen our regional solidarity to leverage our current strategic context to address our collective challenges.”

Pacific Voices

• On our playlist this week: Kolohe Kai – Cool Down
• Lea Salonga annonces her debut as Broadway Producer for ‘Here Lies Love’ - Here Lies Love is a groundbreaking musical about former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos' astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution.