Kiribati said it would rejoin a diplomatic grouping of Pacific Island countries this year, potentially ending a rift that raised questions about the relevance of the Pacific Islands Forum at a time of increased U.S.-China rivalry in the region.
The leaders of Papua New Guinea and Australia say they want negotiations for a wide-ranging security treaty between the two countries to be completed by the end of April.
The leader of the kingmaker party in Fiji’s election says he doesn’t support forming a security relationship with China, preferring foreign relations to be closely aligned with Australia and like-minded countries in the Pacific region.