In this episode, we explore how to build an artificial island. Dr. John McManus of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School gives a step by step guide to construction and describes the techniques the People’s Republic of China has used…
By Gregory Poling Fijian prime minister Voreqe “Frank” Bainimarama on May 6 reiterated that he will not attend any Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders’ meetings as long as Australia and New Zealand remain full members, rather than development partners like…
By James Hurndell In early December the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), which includes Pacific Island nations and major distant-water fishing nations, failed to agree on new measures to conserve Pacific tuna stocks. The inability to achieve consensus…
Who is he? David O’Sullivan was previously the Chief Operating Officer for the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Union’s diplomatic wing that was launched on January 1, 2011. He is the first person to serve in that post.…
By Elke Larsen On May 17, the United Nations recognized French Polynesia as a colony by placing it on the list of Non-Self-Governing Territories for the first time since 1947. With this in mind, the United States must begin…
By Howard S. Schiffman The crisis in global and regional fisheries, and the overall stress on the oceans, needs to be viewed in the realm of security. Resource driven competition has put a new spotlight on the oceans as a…
By Jason Schulman The Australian government announced drastic changes to its foreign aid budget in December 2012, saying it will reallocate $375 million to fund onshore processing of asylum seekers in the country. The government on February 8 clarified exactly…
Who is he? Oscar Manutahi Temaru is the current president of Tahiti Nui (French Polynesia), an overseas territory of the French Republic. He is the leader of the pro-independence party Tavini Huiraatira (People’s Servant Party) and the Union for Democracy…
Who is he? Ambassador Walter North is a career diplomat. He has held several high ranking positions in the U.S. Agency for International Development, including Mission Director for Egypt, Indonesia, India, and Zambia. Prior to his career with USAID, North…
The Leaderboard profiles the people behind the policies of the Asia-Pacific. This post features Prime Minister Henry Puna of the Cook Islands. Who is he? Henry Puna is the prime minister of the Cook Islands and leader of the Cook…
