Amid regional deep-sea mining risks, the US is seen imposing visa bonds on Pacific countries while Kiribati seeks diplomatic recognition of China.

The entities involved

• Fiji →

  island sovereign state in Oceania

  • Sitiveni Rabuka asked the Electoral Commission to suspend campaigning, while Pio Tikoduadua supported election fairness in Fiji.Wed 20:39
  • Thunderstruck Resources Ltd. commenced diamond drilling in southern Viti Levu, Fiji.Tue 13:34
• Kiribati →

  island sovereign state in the central Pacific Ocean

  • The Asian Development Bank warns that several vulnerable nations, including Kiribati, face large monetary losses due to high flood exposure.Wed 15:24
  • The IMF projected a slowdown in Kiribati's economic growth, noting that a stronger Australian dollar contributed to the decline.Mon 03:40
• Cook Islands →

  country in the South Pacific Ocean in free association with New Zealand

  • Emergency Management Cook Islands is leading the disaster response for Tropical Cyclone Wati, providing daily situation reports to the Cabinet.Wed 12:59
  • Chand, a former editor in Samoa, starts working as a journalist in the Cook Islands, while ABC labels La'auli as 'Trump of the Pacific'.Sun 23:40

Related events

• US informs Fiji of cyberattacks linked to China, amidst US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.Oct 13
• The Quad is assisting port development in Fiji as a response to China's growing influence and dominance in critical resources in the Pacific.Jun 7