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Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Marshall Islands. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Capital
Majuro
Head of State
President Hilda C. Heine
Head of Government
President Hilda C. Heine
last updated:
29 November, 2024
US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (left) attends a ceremony in Port Vila, Vanuatu, on Thursday to repatriate sacred human relics seized in New York by the FBI in 2016. Campbell also attended the opening of America’s new embassy in the Pacific nation. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

As No 2 US envoy ends Pacific tour, Beijing scores a diplomatic win on Taiwan

After Beijing envoy demands ‘correction’, Pacific Islands Forum scraps Taiwan reference from its annual summit’s final communique.

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Japan

Japan talks with Pacific islands focus on climate, security issues take back seat

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Middle East

US and UK strike Houthi rebel targets in Yemen after ship attacks

Australia

My Take | Playing defence Mini-Me for the US will cost Australia dearly

The complaint by Canberra about the latest Chinese military flare-up close to China’s coast is not only hypocritical but highly escalatory.

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A Seahawk helicopter prepares to take off from the deck of HMAS Hobart during flying operations while on a regional presence deployment off northern Australia. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Asian nations take steps to cope with geopolitical concern amid US-China rivalry

In this week’s issue of the Global Impact newsletter, we look at how Asian nations have been making moves with an eye on the ever evolving relationship between China and the United States.

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Pacific nations

Solomon Islands ‘locks in’ China ties with another pro-Beijing prime minister

New prime minister Jeremiah Manele is expected to apply a “lighter touch” to ties with Beijing given the demand for greater transparency.

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Japan

To counter growing Chinese presence, Japan coastguard to train Pacific nations

The Mobile Cooperation Team initiative was first set up in 2017 as part of Tokyo’s efforts to train and equip the coastguards of Southeast Asian nations that felt threatened by China’s presence.

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A Japan Coast Guard patrol ship and helicopter take part in a search and rescue mission in November. Photo: Kyodo
Pacific nations

‘Calling for change’: will Solomon Islands lean closer to China after its polls?

Geopolitics looms large over the polls in Solomon Islands, where Beijing and Washington have been vying for influence for years. But for voters just struggling to make ends meet, Wednesday’s election may be decided by issues much closer to home.

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US-China relations

A US governor in the Pacific plans ‘lonely’ pivot away from China

Long tied to Beijing for tourism and gambling income, Northern Mariana Islands needs more aid from Washington, says governor.

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Defence

US ‘may be sending strong message’ to China with hypersonic missile test

US and China likely to continue developing hypersonic weapons while also improving their defensive capabilities to neutralise these systems: analyst.

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A B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber based in Guam took part in the hypersonic missile test on Sunday, firing off the ARRW at the Reagan Test Site in the Marshall Islands. Photo: US Air Force
Pacific nations

Warily eyeing China’s influence, US talks up US$7.1 billion in Pacific aid

Leaders in the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau had warned that delays could have forced their governments to cut services, and swayed public opinion towards offers of investment from China.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets (from left) Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Jack Ading, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jnr and Micronesia’s President Wesley Simina (right) in September last year. Photo: AP
US-China relations

US knew Nauru might cut ties to Taiwan before it did, official says

Daniel Kritenbrink, an assistant secretary of state, tells Senate hearing ‘we had known for some time [of Nauru’s concerns] … in this instance, they decided to flip’.

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Japan

Japan may be making its biggest security move in the Pacific Islands since WWII

Talks on March 19 are expected to involve Japan’s Self-Defence Forces and police taking part in local and regional responses as well as training.

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Pacific nations

US Senate passes funds for Pacific island nations after congressional delays

Deals for Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau, intended to counter China’s influence in the region, win passage as part of appropriations package.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (centre right) with, from left, Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Ading, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jnr and Micronesia’s President Wesley Simina, on September 26, 2023, in Washington. The Senate has approved a bill renewing Compacts of Free Association with the three island nations. Photo: AP
Hong Kong environmental issues

Editorial | Hong Kong puts shipping industry on greener course

City push for regional green fuel bunkering centre will offer incentives to vessel owners and industry to be more environmentally friendly.

Vessels pass Hong Kong’s Tsing Ma Bridge. The city aims to establish a regional green fuel bunkering centre to make shipping more environmentally friendly. Photo: Martin Chan
Pacific nations

House Republicans add Pacific nations deals to bill ‘countering Communist China’

A federal budget impasse has hindered funding for the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau as Beijing deepens ties in the strategically vital region.

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Middle East

Attacks on ships and US drones show Houthis can still fight despite US-led strikes

This week, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels seriously damaged a ship in a crucial strait and downed an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars.

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Pacific nations

US’ funding deadlock may pave the way for more Chinese influence in the Pacific

The lack of urgency is causing alarm inside the United States among those hyper-aware of the speed at which China may step in while Congress dawdles over a small sum of money by aid standards.

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Secretary of State Antony Blinken, (centre right) meets with, from left, Marshall Islands Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Jack Ading, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps, Jr., Blinken, and Micronesia’s President Wesley Simina on September 26, 2023, in Washington. Photo: AP
US-China relations

Palau president raises threat of pivot to Beijing if US aid is delayed further

In letter to US senator, President Surangel Whipps Jnr writes that local leaders want to gain more financial aid from Beijing ‘at the cost of shifting alliances, beginning with sacrificing Taiwan’.

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Pacific nations

US still seeks delayed Pacific funds amid China push in region: senior diplomat

‘Critically important to continue to work’ in support of Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau, all omitted from US$95 billion foreign aid package.

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Taiwan election 2024

‘What’s next’ as China’s Pacific island diplomatic wins mount?

After Nauru’s diplomatic switch from Taipei, experts are watching for shifts in regional security, balance of power.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, right, and Nauru’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Aingimea shake hands after signing a joint communique on the resumption of diplomatic relations between China and Nauru at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing last month. Photo: AP
Australia

Australia says it won’t interfere if Taiwan ally Tuvalu shifts ties to Beijing

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it’s ‘a sovereign decision’ for Tuvalu amid reports the Pacific island nation could follow Nauru’s lead in shifting its alliance to China.

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Tuvalu under the wing of an airplane. The Pacific island nation is reportedly planning to end its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan. Photo: Getty Images
Middle East

Analysis | US presses ahead with ‘least bad’ option confronting Houthis

US President Joe Biden acknowledges air strikes won’t stop Houthi attacks. Yet that doesn’t mean the military campaign will stop any time soon.

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Pacific nations

Facing oblivion, Pacific nations condemn ‘catastrophic’ Cop28 deal

Pacific nations, especially Kiribati, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu, are among the most vulnerable nations to be nearly entirely inundated by rising sea levels.

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US-China relations

US and Taiwan to keep pressing for Taipei’s inclusion in World Health Assembly

US State Department says discussion, which included Taiwan and US officials, focused on support for Taiwan’s expanded participation in multilateral organisations.

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The US State Department said on Wednesday that Taiwan and the US would redouble efforts to win Taiwan’s inclusion in the World Health Assembly and other multilateral organisations. Photo: Reuters
Cop28

Cop28 climate summit adopts world-first ‘transition’ from fossil fuels

Deal in Dubai marks the first time that all fossil fuels are addressed in 28 years of climate summits.

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The deal is a diplomatic win for the UAE and Cop28 president Sultan Al Jaber, pictured with other officials. Photo: AFP
Israel-Gaza war

UN General Assembly demands humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza

More than three-quarters of the 193-member General Assembly backed the move, which had been vetoed by the United States in the Security Council last week.

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United States

My Take | How Western allies subvert international law and norms to ‘contain’ China

The US has been ruthlessly militarising what some Pentagon strategists have called the island chains of defence in the Indo-Pacific with quiet ‘Five Eyes’ help.

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