Vanuatu

China-Taiwan: Solomon Islands’ switch and a “new normal”
China-Taiwan: Solomon Islands’ switch and a “new normal”
“A vacuum simply offers opportunities for others to fill it up.” That observation was offered by Vanuatu Member of Parliament Johnny Koanapo in a recent Facebook post. The…
The many questions about China’s Vanuatu ambition
The many questions about China’s Vanuatu ambition
What to make of the extraordinary story in Australia’s Fairfax newspapers on Tuesday about reported discussions between China and Vanuatu that could allow the People’s…
Vanuatu: flailing, not drowning
Vanuatu: flailing, not drowning
On Monday The Australian published an article titled “Pacific nations drowning in Chinese debt”. It suggests that a large number of recent “white elephant” projects are…
Pacific island links: PNG snapshots, the French PM in New Caledonia, Mini Games and more
Pacific island links: PNG snapshots, the French PM in New Caledonia, Mini Games and more
By Euan Moyle, an intern with the Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands Program. The Lowy Institute has released Papua New Guinea: Seven Snapshots of a Nation, which analyses PNG’s…
Pacific island links: Manus closure, Evara's death, caretaker mode in New Caledonia and more
Pacific island links: Manus closure, Evara's death, caretaker mode in New Caledonia and more
By Euan Moyle, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands Program. With the Manus Island Detention Centre set to close at the end of the month, hundreds of remaining…
Pacific island links: PNG politics, Ambae, Tsai’s visit and more
Pacific island links: PNG politics, Ambae, Tsai’s visit and more
By Euan Moyle, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Pacific Islands Program. Sam Basil, leader of the Pangu Pati, has been appointed a Minister for Communications, Information…
Pacific island links: Ambae evacuation, violence in Mendi,  French Polynesia and more
Pacific island links: Ambae evacuation, violence in Mendi, French Polynesia and more
By Euan Moyle, an intern in the Lowy Institute's Melanesia Program. Vanuatu has completed the evacuation of 11,000 residents from Ambae Island as the Manaro volcano threatens to…
Tanna: Bare feet on the Oscars red carpet
Tanna: Bare feet on the Oscars red carpet
The Pacific is abuzz with the news that the film Tanna, released in 2015, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category. Directed by…
Vanuatu's neglected international airport
By Jonathan Pryke, Research Fellow in the Lowy Institute's Melanesia Program and Matthew Dornan, Deputy Director of the Development Policy Centre Vanuatu is the 9th most tourism…
Vanuatu election outcome: Can a new coalition government kick-start the economy?
The past year has tested Vanuatu’s economic and political resilience. Following the devastation wreaked by Category 5 Cyclone Pam in the island archipelago in March, economic…