Latest news with #PacificSecurity
Times of Oman
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Times of Oman
FBI opens new office in Wellington to bolster joint efforts between the United States and New Zealand
Wellington: The FBI has officially opened a standalone office in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, aiming to bolster joint efforts between the United States and New Zealand to counter China's expanding influence in the Pacific region, FBI Director Kash Patel said Thursday, according to the Taipei Times. Patel, who spent several days in Wellington meeting with senior New Zealand government ministers, intelligence chiefs, and law enforcement officials, emphasised that the new dedicated FBI attache office will deepen Washington's longstanding cooperation with one of its key partners in the southwestern Pacific. In a statement released by the US embassy in Wellington, Patel said, "Some of the most important global issues of our times are the ones that New Zealand and America work on together, countering the CCP [Communist Party of China] in the INDOPACOM [US Indo-Pacific Command] theater, countering the narcotics trade, working together against cyber intrusions and ransomware operations and most importantly protecting our respective citizenry," as reported by the Taipei Times. The FBI has maintained a suboffice in New Zealand since 2017, with both countries collaborating closely on issues such as child exploitation and organised crime. The expanded office reflects growing concerns about China's increasing strategic presence in the Pacific, a region crucial to global security. New Zealand and the United States are both members of the "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing alliance, which also includes Australia, Canada, and the UK. Patel acknowledged the critical role of this partnership, stating, "The FBI cannot do it alone; we need all of them to get after the fight and put the mission first," the Taipei Times reported. New Zealand's Minister of Defence, Judith Collins and Minister of Police Mark Mitchell welcomed the establishment of the new FBI office, highlighting its importance for enhancing the safety and security of New Zealanders. The US embassy further noted that the office will also oversee FBI partnerships in nearby regions, including Antarctica, Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands, and Tonga, reinforcing the United States' commitment to countering Chinese influence across the Pacific, the Taipei Times reported.
RNZ News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Fiji's PM Sitiveni Rabuka says China's military bases are 'not welcome' in the Pacific
By Stephen Dziedzic , ABC News Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: X / @slrabuka Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has delivered a blow to China's security ambitions in the Pacific, declaring his country would "not welcome" any Chinese military bases in the region. But Rabuka has also stressed he doesn't believe that China is actively looking for such a security foothold in the Pacific - saying the rising power doesn't need it to project power. Sitiveni Rabuka was repeatedly pressed about China's role in the Pacific in the wake of his speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today. Rabuka didn't mince words when he was asked if he believed that Beijing should be permitted to establish a military base in the Pacific. "Who would welcome them?" he asked rhetorically. "Not Fiji." The prime minister also gave a direct answer when asked if he would use his influence in the broader region to stop China gaining a military base. "As long as I'm prime minister, yes," he said. "And I think that China understands that well." Rabuka also said earlier that Pacific nations were trying to "cope with a China that is big, really big" and which would "probably like to spread its influence" in the region. He said that meant that Pacific nations which were "friendly to all and enemies to none" had a "fairly tough course to steer". But he also praised Xi Jinping as a "great leader" who had lifted China out of poverty, and told the Press Club that he didn't believe China was actively searching for a military base in Pacific island nations. "They have proven that they do not need a base outside China to be able to launch what they have into any other area of the world," he said. "So they can go east of China and far and go as far east to America as they like, or go west and go to the furthest point in Europe if they like, so there is really no need for them to set up any other bases in the Pacific." Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: Fiji Government That runs counter to Australian government assessments, which warn that China is seeking a security foothold in the Pacific - potentially through "dual use" infrastructure projects which could be used for military purposes. The Pacific Minister Pat Conroy has repeatedly said publicly that Beijing is seeking a security "presence" in the region, including through its attempts to expand police cooperation in the Pacific. Mihai Sora from the Lowy Institute said that while Canberra would welcome Rabuka's clear statement about a Chinese military base, the prime minister's statements showed he was not on the same page as Australia when it came to Beijing's objectives. "My takeaway was that the prime minister fundamentally does not want to recognise China's strategic intent." "Despite earlier acknowledging China's designs to increase influence, he doesn't connect that influence with seeking greater military access," he said. "Australia still needs to do far more to achieve alignment in strategic world views, even… among our closest Pacific security partners." Rabuka also said he would like to explore signing a new overarching agreement with Australia, saying the relationship may have "reached a poin … where our renewed and elevated partnership needs to step up to an agreement or treaty". The Albanese government has signed a slew of new strategic agreements with Pacific nations like Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea, and is exploring new pacts with Tonga and Vanuatu. Rabuka did not provide detail about how a new agreement could work, but said it would allow Australia to expand assistance to Fiji and help the relationship withstand the "political whims of the winning parties in the various elections, because there will be national treaties between sovereign states". He also provided more detail about his framework for an 'Ocean of Peace' - which he plans to bring to other Pacific leaders at a high-level meeting in Solomon Islands in September. Rabuka said the strategy would enshrine peaceful cooperation and respect for international law at its heart, and allow the Pacific to "set out how we expect those outside the region to respect our approaches, and participate with us". "This means respect for the Pacific way," he said. "Respect for norms and law. No coercion." - ABC News
ABC News
02-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Fiji's PM Sitiveni Rabuka says China's military bases are 'not welcome' in the Pacific
Fiji's Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has delivered a blow to China's security ambitions in the Pacific, declaring his country would "not welcome" any Chinese military bases in the region. But Mr Rabuka has also stressed he doesn't believe that China is actively looking for such a security foothold in the Pacific — saying the rising power doesn't need it to project power. Sitiveni Rabuka was repeatedly pressed about China's role in the Pacific in the wake of his speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today. Mr Rabuka didn't mince words when he was asked if he believed that Beijing should be permitted to establish a military base in the Pacific. The prime minister also gave a direct answer when asked if he would use his influence in the broader region to stop China gaining a military base. "As long as I'm prime minister, yes," he said "And I think that China understands that well." Mr Rabuka also said earlier that Pacific nations were trying to "cope with a China that is big, really big" and which would "probably like to spread its influence" in the region. He said that meant that Pacific nations which were 'friendly to all and enemies to none' had a "fairly tough course to steer". But he also praised Xi Jinping as a "great leader" who had lifted China out of poverty, and told the Press Club that he didn't believe China was actively searching for a military base in Pacific island nations. "They have proven that they do not need a base outside China to be able to launch what they have into any other area of the world," he said. "So they can go east of China and far and go as far east to America as they like, or go west and go to the furthest point in Europe if they like, so there is really no need for them to set up any other bases in the Pacific." That runs counter to Australian government assessments, which warn that China is seeking a security foothold in the Pacific — potentially through "dual use" infrastructure projects which could be used for military purposes. The Pacific Minister Pat Conroy has repeatedly said publicly that Beijing is seeking a security "presence" in the region, including through its attempts to expand police cooperation in the Pacific. Mihai Sora from the Lowy Institute said that while Canberra would welcome Mr Rabuka's clear statement about a Chinese military base, the prime minister's statements showed he was not on the same page as Australia when it came to Beijing's objectives. "Despite earlier acknowledging China's designs to increase influence, he doesn't connect that influence with seeking greater military access," he said. "Australia still needs to do far more to achieve alignment in strategic world views, even with among our closest Pacific security partners." Mr Rabuka also said he would like to explore signing a new overarching agreement with Australia, saying the relationship may have "reached a point … where our renewed and elevated partnership needs to step up to an agreement or treaty". The Albanese government has signed a slew of new strategic agreements with Pacific nations like Tuvalu, Nauru and Papua New Guinea, and is exploring new pacts with Tonga and Vanuatu. Mr Rabuka did not provide detail about how a new agreement could work, but said it would allow Australia to expand assistance to Fiji and help the relationship withstand the "political whims of the winning parties in the various elections, because there will be national treaties between sovereign states". He also provided more detail about his framework for an "Ocean of Peace" – which he plans to bring to other Pacific leaders at a high-level meeting in Solomon Islands in September. Mr Rabuka said the strategy would enshrine peaceful cooperation and respect for international law at its heart, and allow the Pacific to "set out how we expect those outside the region to respect our approaches, and participate with us". "This means respect for the Pacific way," he said. "Respect for norms and law. No coercion."
Daily Mail
11-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Fears Trump could sink US-UK nuclear subs deal after President ordered review into pact intended to secure the Pacific against Chinese aggression
Royal Navy chiefs voiced concerns last night after Donald Trump ordered a review of the nuclear submarine pact between the UK, the US and Australia. Aukus, as the joint project is known, is intended to secure the Pacific against Chinese aggression and involves multi-billion-pound commitments to build new nuclear-powered submarines. The Ministry of Defence announced its intention to build up to 12 submarines for Aukus and other operations as part of last week's Strategic Defence Review. But these plans have been thrown into doubt after the US defence department announced a review to ensure Aukus meets the President's 'America First' agenda. Relations between the US and Australia have soured over tariffs. America has also demanded Australia increase defence spending and wants to sell older submarines to Australia on favourable terms. Another cause for concern is the review is being led by Aukus sceptic Elbridge Colby, who is close to President Trump. Last night former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West said: 'Aukus is extremely important for the strategic situation in the Pacific and very important for Britain as a way of us moving into our next generation of submarines. 'The US had had concerns about selling its submarines to Australia, so it is not entirely unexpected that President Trump would want to look at this. Hopefully this can be resolved and we all move on together as part of the alliance.' The deal is regarded as a pillar of security co-operation. But concerns have been raised in the US over the rate of submarine production and Australia's reluctance to commit to a 'no holds barred' response to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. The US is committed to selling up to five boats to Australia, vessels which many in the US believe should be retained by the US Navy.
