Pacific Roundup, Palau, Marshall Is., Fiji, New Caledonia, Solomon Is., PNG

 Palau and Marshall Islands

The US is revisiting its compact of free association with Palau and Marshall Islands. The US will invest $1.6 million to investigate water quality on Enewetak Atoll for radioactivity.

Enewetak nuclear explosion.     pn524

 Nuclear testing by the US totaling more than 30 megatons of TNT took place during the cold war; in 1977–1980, a concrete dome (the Runit Dome) was built on Runit Island to deposit radioactive soil and debris. The Runit Dome is deteriorating and could be breached by a typhoon, though the sediments in the lagoon are even more radioactive than those which are contained. -- Wikipedia.

Fiji

Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde has ruled no charges will be brought against the PM for his alleged assault on Pio Tikoduadua because it occurred with the parliamentary precincts, for which parliament is responsible,

Minister of Education Rosy Akbar  debunks false news (again).  School fees will not be reintroduced, schools can fund raise, and Form 7 is not going to be abolished. One must wonder whether the false news is politically motivated.


Australian PM Scott Morrison was in Fiji last week for discussions with the Fiji government. It will cooperative with Fiji on illegal fishing and has increased its kava imports. No mention was made on climate change, on which the two countries hold very different positions.
 

New Caledonia
There are two more votes to go on whether New Caledonia becomes independent or remains a French possession. Voters at next vote, in 2010, will be provided with a background paper listing the pros and cons of independence, as required by French law.

Solomon  Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare has just returned from a week-long visit to China following the country's switch from recognising Taiwan. The visit resulted in five memoranda of understanding, including Solomons joining China's Belt and Road initiative, and China paying its old $10 million debt to Taiwan. In addition, the island of Tulagi has been leased to a Chinese company and will be made into special economic zone, and China will pay for an old goldmine to be reopened.

Sogavare said the country’s foreign policy ‘friend to all and enemy to none’ remains the same and Solomon Islands is still a friend to Taiwan but not in diplomatic relations.He said China encourages Solomon Islands to have sister relationship with its provinces including Taiwan. 

Taiwan and the US will co-host the first Pacific Islands Regional meeting in Taiwan, which aims to foster closer relations, common values and enhance regional security.

PNG's economic position is worse than previously expected; former PM Peter O'Neill is expected to be arrested on corruption charges; and Asian asylum refugees from Manus island voluntarily relocated to Port Moresby say they are living in poverty.