Indo-Pacific

All news and posts of our editorial team on the topic

Biden meets leaders of Pacific island nations
US President Biden has invited leaders of Pacific island nations to a summit meeting this week after the cancellation of a planned May meeting in Papua New Guinea. It is the second meeting of its kind. Last year, Biden met with 14 Pacific island nations for the first time and pledged support in fending off […] continue reading →
Indo-Pacific: France positions itself between the US and China
France wants to establish itself in the Indo-Pacific as an alternative to China and the USA. continue reading →
Beijing backs Myanmar’s military government
Beijing has pledged “close friendship” to the military government in Myanmar. China supports the political transition process in Myanmar as well as relevant forces, Foreign Minister Qin Gang said after a meeting with Army Chief Min Aung Hlaing in Myanmar’s capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday. China will also expand its investment in Myanmar and support projects […] continue reading →
The Micronesia uprising
The President of Micronesia accuses China of "political warfare" against his country. He now wants to establish diplomatic ties with Taiwan. It would be a change against the global trend – and a setback for China in a strategically important region. continue reading →
Fiji ends police cooperation
Fiji has ended cooperation with China on police training. There is no need for Chinese state security personnel to continue working with the South Pacific nation’s police, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said, according to Fiji Times. Rabuka cited different political systems as the reason. “Our system of democracy and justice systems are different,” Rabuka said, […] continue reading →
‘Chinese armament is not limited to the People’s Liberation Army’
The Indo-Pacific lacks institutions for conflict resolution. At the same time, China arms itself, even beyond the navy. For the United States, rearmament measures and rhetoric actually differ, says Felix Heiduk, Asia research group leader at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Violent clashes in the region could also break out unintentionally. The interview was conducted by Gabriel Bub of Table.Media. continue reading →
The Philippines increases military presence in South China Sea
The Philippines’ Department of National Defense ordered the military to increase its presence in the South China Sea. It reportedly observed Chinese activity in waters near the Philippines-administered and strategically important Pag-asa Island, also known as Thitu Island. The island is part of the disputed Spratly Islands. China’s activities in the area were not specified. […] continue reading →
Conflict at 5000 meters
Indian and Chinese soldiers clash at the border. The latest incident shows how fragile the relationship between the two nuclear powers is. Moreover, the border skirmishes have global significance. continue reading →
China trains police officers from the Solomon Islands
A group of 32 police officers from the South Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands have left for China to be trained in policing techniques and improve their understanding of Chinese culture, the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force said in a statement.Since the two countries signed a security pact in April, China claims to have […] continue reading →
USA invests in Pacific island states
On Tuesday, the United States published a new strategy paper for joint relations at a summit with more than a dozen heads of state and representatives of Pacific island states. According to the paper, the US wants to support the region’s states in areas such as climate protection and help them remain independent of China. […] continue reading →
China’s growing influence in the South Pacific
After the excitement surrounding a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands, things have become quiet around the Pacific state. But Beijing is using the supposed silence to expand its influence. continue reading →
Taiwan and Indo-Pacific on EU agenda
The situation around Taiwan and the EU’s relationship with China and the Indo-Pacific region is an important topic in Brussels in the first days after the summer break. The EU is still talking with Thai representatives this week about an agreement to make supply chains in Asia more diverse, Gunnar Wiegand of the European External […] continue reading →
Solomon Islands bans US ships from docking
Roughly three months after the controversial security agreement with China was signed, the Solomon Islands have begun to show growing rejection of US naval vessels. After a US Coast Guard vessel had been denied entry last week, authorities in the Pacific island nation now imposed a complete halt to naval visits. “We have requested our […] continue reading →
Air Force participates in exercises in Indo-Pacific
As part of a military exercise called “Rapid Pacific 2022,” the German Air Force has deployed a fleet of aircraft to Asia. Around 250 servicemen and women are involved in the exercise, which will last several weeks. However, one aircraft stayed in Abu Dhabi due to technical problems. As recently as July, during a visit […] continue reading →
China sends soldiers to Russia for military drill
China will take part in a military maneuver in Russia. Soldiers from the People’s Liberation Army are sent to Russia for the exercises jointly scheduled with Russia, India, Belarus, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and other countries, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced Wednesday. It stated the participation was not related to the current international and regional situation and […] continue reading →
Prime Minister of Solomon Islands rules out military base
The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands explicitly ruled out the presence of a Chinese military base in his country. In an interview with the Guardian, Manasseh Sogavare said such a deal would undermine security in the region and make the Solomon Islands an enemy of other countries in the Indo-Pacific region. He added that […] continue reading →
Wang Yi warns Asian countries about the USA
On Monday, China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned Southeast Asian nations against US influence. Speaking at the secretariat of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, Wang said the countries should not take sides in the rivalry between the major powers or even allow themselves to be used as […] continue reading →
Solomon Islands: no permanent Chinese military base
The Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands assured Australia on Friday that there would be no permanent military presence of China. In April, the Pacific nation signed a security agreement with China that would also enable the presence of Chinese police and military forces (China.Table reported). China’s military ships would be able to dock in […] continue reading →