Author: TMC Palau

After an historic day in which the result of Bougainville’s independence referendum was finally tabled in Papua New Guinea’s national parliament, an eventual decision on the matter is at least months away.The parliament adjourned after debate on Thursday on the tabling of the Bougainville referendum result from 2019 in which 97.7 percent of Bougainvilleans voted for independencePNG’s members of parliament will have the final say on whether to ratify the result, although it is not clear when that vote will be taken.A delegation from the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) sat patiently in the gallery and watched on as MPs offered…

Welfare support is meant to be central to the success of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, yet little is publicly known about how the system actually works. Our Devpolicy policy brief reports in some detail on the scope and effectiveness of the PALM welfare support system. We conclude that it is extensive on paper but poorly understood and inadequately connected in practice. PALM welfare support has two broad strands: a set of formal, government-mandated arrangements and various forms of informal, community-driven support. Both are important, but what is missing is a more systematic, collaborative approach to making these…

China’s July 6 test of a missile, left, that traveled more than 7,000 kilometers across the Pacific before landing south of Kiribati will provide a fresh focus for members of the Pacific Island Forum, headquartered in Fiji, right. (Source photos by Xinhua/AP and Reuters)Policy AsiaNuclear-capable missile launch from submarine sends signal before island leaders gather in PalauSOPHIE MAK and SHAUN TURTONAugust 28, 2026 04:00 JST Source link

A delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) departed for Palau yesterday to attend side events held alongside the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).Speaking to reporters before departing from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Lin said that the visit, scheduled through Thursday next week, aims to boost trade, investment and tourism cooperation between Palau and Taiwan while creating opportunities for exchanges with other Pacific nations.Lin said that the Taiwanese delegation to Palau, Taiwan’s closest diplomatic ally geographically, includes government officials and business representatives. Photo: CNA According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin is to take part in…

TAIPEI – Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will attend events related to a major summit of leaders from Pacific Islands nations in Palau starting next week, his office said on Aug 26.China’s test-firing in July of a missile into the Pacific alarmed regional powers but failed to spur a unified response from Pacific Island governments, underscoring divisions over how to confront growing strategic competition in the region.China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has gradually whittled away the number of Pacific Island countries with formal ties to Taipei, with only three remaining – Palau, Tuvalu and the…

Taoyuan, Aug. 27 (CNA) A delegation led by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) departed for Palau on Thursday to attend side events held alongside the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF).Speaking to reporters before departing from Taoyuan International Airport, Lin said the Aug. 27-Sept. 3 visit aimed to boost trade, investment and tourism cooperation between Palau and Taiwan while creating opportunities for exchanges with other Pacific nations.Lin said the Taiwanese delegation to Palau, Taiwan’s closest diplomatic ally geographically, includes government officials and business representatives.According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Lin will take part in the 30th Taiwan/Republic of China-PIF…

PACIFIC ALLIES: Lin Chia-lung will attend meetings adjacent to the conference after Taiwan was blocked from last year’s event by the host, the Solomon Islands Staff writer, with agencies Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) is to attend an annual gathering of Pacific Island leaders in Palau next week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, after Taiwan and other non-members of the bloc were barred from the event last year.Lin departs for Palau today to attend meetings coinciding with the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit, to be held in Koror from Sunday to Sept. 4, the ministry…

Fiji’s main tourism industry body says it welcomes the government’s decision to relax its new tourism tax, but it remains confused about some aspects of the controversial policy.The Fijian government first announced details about a 5 percent Tourism Services Tax (TST) during the 2026-2027 National Budget address in late June, with the tax slated to take effect on 1 September.Fiji’s government relaxes tourism tax rulesWhile parliament subsequently passed the budget on 16 July, it was not until late August, during the parliamentary sitting, that the government clarified how the TST would be implemented. The government said the purpose of the…

Key Takeaways Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will attend Pacific summit events in Palau, while China says Taipei lacks qualification to participate. China’s July missile test into the Pacific alarmed regional powers but Pacific island governments failed to mount a unified response. Beijing has whittled diplomatic ties to Taiwan to three Pacific nations: Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, while increasing regional influence. Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung will attend events related to a major summit of leaders from Pacific island nations in Palau starting next week, his office said on Wednesday, though China said he had no right to…

Tonga-born All Black prop Saula Ma’u made his debut in the black jersey in South Africa on Wednesday morning (NZT) and says he is eager for more top international matches.Ma’u was called up as an injury replacement last week, and took the field with 20 minutes to go at Ellis Park and helped the All Blacks come from 35-17 down to winning the match 41-35.Emotional and fighting back tears post-match, Ma’u told reporters he was over the moon and would savour the “unreal” moment for life.”I was talking to this guy before, like a couple weeks ago, I was back…