China influence
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Papua New Guinea–Australia Defence Pact Sparks Debate Over Citizenship-for-Service in the ADF
Six months after a landmark PNG–Australia pact, a citizenship-for-service plan to recruit up to 10,000 Papua New Guineans into the Australian Defence Force is fuelling a sharp public debate. Supporters call it a much-needed jobs lifeline for a young nation; critics warn it could pull PNG nationals into foreign military theaters and reshuffle loyalties. As…
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Heritage Foundation proposes formal Pacific Charter to deepen U.S. ties with Pacific nations and counter China
Could a formal Pacific Charter and a White House–backed regional adviser reshape U.S. engagement in the Pacific? The proposal is stirring debate over sovereignty, development choices, and how great-power rivalry is playing out in island nations.