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Kirsty Needham
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 10, 2023
Pacific's Micronesia in talks to switch ties from Beijing to Taiwan
Beijing and Taiwan have a history of competing in the Pacific islands, where four of Taiwan's 14 diplomatic allies are located.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 5, 2022
Unpredictable Solomon Islands fuels U.S. concern as China's influence grows
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare's unpredictable diplomacy will make it hard for Washington to make up lost ground with the island nation as Beijing seeks to expand its security presence.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 28, 2022
Australia commits to Pacific islands defense training as China plans rival meet
Australia will double its funding for aerial surveillance of the Pacific islands vast fishing zone and provide financing for Pacific islands to build more resilient infrastructure.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 14, 2022
Hero to hindrance: Australia's Morrison hurts party's election hopes
The PM's personality is now a liability, with public attacks from members of his own party and polls showing his government on track to lose to the Labor Party in the May 21 election.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Apr 27, 2022
Solomon Islands pact with China roils Australian PM's election campaign
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison saw a hawkish stance on China as an electoral strength. But now his party is on the back foot on national security.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 20, 2022
Solomon Islands PM says China security pact won't undermine regional peace
The move has heightened concerns in Canberra about the potential for a Chinese military presence less than 2,000 kilometers away.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 24, 2022
Australian PM loses control of WeChat Chinese account as election looms
With a national election due by May, the government would have aimed to use the Morrison account to promote its policies during the Chinese New Year celebrations starting Feb. 1.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 21, 2022
World rushes aid to tsunami-hit Tonga as drinking water and food run short
The first flights from Australia and New Zealand landed in Tonga on Thursday with much-needed supplies of water for sanitation and hygiene as well as shelter, communication equipment and power generators.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 20, 2022
First aid finally reaches Tonga as telephone lines partially restored
The delivery of the supplies brought in by aircraft was contactless to ensure Tonga remains free of the coronavirus.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 11, 2022
Pacific may be most likely to see 'strategic surprise,' U.S. policymaker says
The comments by U.S. Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell were apparently in reference to possible Chinese ambitions to establish Pacific-island bases.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 19, 2021
Monkey-brain study with link to China's military roils top European university
Concerns about China's fusion of military and civilian technology have grown in recent years.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 8, 2021
China's gene giant harvests data from millions of women
The U.S. has warned that the firm is amassing and analyzing data that could give China a path to economic and military advantage.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 31, 2021
China gene firm providing worldwide COVID-19 tests worked with Chinese military
BGI Group's links to the People's Liberation Army, which have not been previously reported, include research with China's top military supercomputing experts.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Sep 8, 2020
Australia faces down China in high-stakes strategic shift
The relationship is no longer shaped just by trade, but by a stark view that Beijing poses a threat to Australia's democracy and national sovereignty.

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