Politics

1 November 2025
Maeverlyn Pitanoe, who was left with severed fingers and burn scars all over her body after a UXO accident in 2021, which killed two other people, speaks to Nikkei Asia on Sep 12 at her home in Fishing Village, a suburb of Honiara in the Solomon Islands. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
Civmec completed construction of this more than 50,000-square-meter shipyard in Western Australia in 2020. (AMC)
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Australian shipbuilder Civmec eyes joint Japan frigate project

Company diversifies as prices fluctuate in mainstay resource business

24 October 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump and Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meet at the White House on Monday. 
International relations

US and Australia strike critical minerals deal as Trump backs AUKUS

President says submarine partnership is 'all set' and advancing 'very rapidly'

21 October 2025
A cargo ship full of shipping containers is seen at the Port of Oakland, California, on Aug. 4. U.S. President Donald Trump says he will impose another 100% tariff on Chinese imports on Nov. 1.
17 October 2025
Military personnel participate in the 80th Indonesian National Armed Forces' anniversary celebrations in Jakarta on Oct. 5. The military on Oct. 17 said it reclaimed a village in the restive Papua region following a battle with bullets and arrows.
Politics

Clash between Indonesian army and insurgents leaves 14 dead in Papua region

Soldiers routed rebels following a village battle, military says

17 October 2025
Beef is displayed for sale at a butcher shop in Melbourne, Australia on April 4. 
Agriculture

China snubs US beef in trade war win for Australia's farmers

Combination of increasing exports and higher global prices bolster local sector

13 October 2025
Washington's alliances with Japan and South Korea are not equally beneficial to the U.S., according to a report from a Washington think tank.
Indo-Pacific

Japan boosts US strategy, South Korea raises risk: Carnegie

Think tank audits value of America's alliances to compete with China

9 October 2025
More than 1,000 personnel -- 700 from China -- will participate in naval maneuvers that include helicopters and unmanned systems.
Defense

China and Malaysia set to hold joint military exercise in October

Beijing boosting defense cooperation with Southeast Asia amid tensions

8 October 2025
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth holds a Squad defense ministers meeting in Singapore with counterparts from Japan, Australia and the Philippines on May 31. (U.S. Department of Defense)
Japan leadership race

Will Takaichi's Japan engage with Quad, Squad or new 'Asian Quad'?

Defense chiefs of US, Japan, Australia and Philippines to meet soon

8 October 2025
Teams with members from island nations and regions learn about cyberdefense during last year's exercise. (Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications)
3 October 2025
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape attend a flag lowering ceremony in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on Sept. 16.
2 October 2025
The Virginia-class fast attack submarine USS North Carolina departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The U.S. is scheduled to sell at least three such boats to Australia under the AUKUS framework. (U.S. Navy)
Trump administration

AUKUS survives Pentagon review, with US submarine sales to proceed

Washington to conclude evaluation ahead of Australian PM's visit on Oct. 20

30 September 2025
Residents of Malaita, the Solomon Islands, ride a truck in the provincial capital of Auki. Many of Malaita Island's roads are difficult to traverse. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

China making inroads after pushback in key Solomon Islands province

Trump's US pullout gives China room to expand its aid and infrastructure support

28 September 2025
Displaced Palestinian children flee southward in the Gaza Strip on Sept. 21 after Israeli forces ordered residents of Gaza City to evacuate to the south.
International relations

Britain, Canada and Australia recognize a Palestinian state

Palestinian FM says sovereignty is closer; Israel calls move reward for 'murderers'

21 September 2025
From left: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stand together at the start of their meeting of the Quad in Washington on July 1.
Opinion

This is how the Quad dies ... again

If the partnership does end, it would rack up yet another win for China

18 September 2025
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, far right, meets with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, far left, at the Prime Minister's Office in July. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Japan to aid Papua's disaster preparedness, countering China influence

Tokyo hopes to strengthening ties by providing heavy machinery

14 September 2025
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele addresses media at the 54th Pacific Island Forum Leaders Meeting in Honiara on Sept. 12. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

Taiwan frictions surface again as Pacific summit concludes

In break with standard practice, this year's gathering went ahead without external partners

12 September 2025
Pacific Islands Forum leaders attend a signing ceremony in the Solomon Islands on Sept. 10 for a treaty to launch a climate action fund. (Photo by Shaun Turton).
Climate Change

Pacific leaders kickstart fund to finance climate action

Move comes amid 'frustration' felt by smaller states

10 September 2025
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, left, and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy stand in front of a Ghost Shark sub at HMAS Kuttabul naval base in Sydney on Sept. 10.
Aerospace & Defense Industries

Australia to spend $1.1bn on Ghost Shark unmanned subs

Move comes on heels of China flexing military capabilities at massive parade

10 September 2025
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vanuatu's Prime Minister Jotham Napat did not sign a landmark security and economic deal, but remain committed to doing so. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
International relations

Australia and Vanuatu still expect to ink security pact despite delay

Pacific island nation's prime minister holds off on signing deal amid internal divisions

9 September 2025
Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra ahead of a television panel discussion in Bangkok on July 9.
Your Week in Asia

Pacific Island Forum, Thaksin ruling, Lee's first 100 days

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

7 September 2025
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a media conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Aug. 26. (AAP/Lukas Coch via Reuters)
International relations

Australia blames Iran for two antisemitic attacks, expels its envoy

Canberra set to designate Islamic Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organization

26 August 2025
Japan and Australia will hold a "two-plus-two" meeting of foreign and defense ministers in Tokyo next month. High on the agenda will be a deal for joint development of new frigates for Australia's navy. (Kyodo)
23 August 2025
Australian Ambassador to the U.S. Kevin Rudd speaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies on Aug. 20. (Australian Embassy)
Indo-Pacific

AUKUS submarines need rare earths and can't rely on China, envoy warns

Beijing made 'great mistake' by restricting exports, Australia's ambassador to US says

21 August 2025
Melanie Brock, CEO of Melanie Brock Advisory, far left, speaks during a session at the Nikkei Forum Melbourne 2025 in Melbourne on Aug. 18. (Photo by Suzu Takahashi)
Defense

Japan's Ishiba doubles down on 'JANZUS' ambition

PM says his country and Australia need to fill US gap in Southeast Asia

18 August 2025
Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, pictured in May 2020, is understood to be suffering from health problems after years in solitary confinement.
Hong Kong security law

Closing arguments begin in mogul Jimmy Lai's Hong Kong security trial

Prominent activists-in-exile Ted Hui, Tony Chung granted asylum by Australia, UK

18 August 2025
New Zealand's Winston Peters speaks at a meeting of Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers in Suva, Fiji, on Aug. 14. (Screenshot from the X account of New Zealand's Foreign Ministry) 
Indo-Pacific

New Zealand, Australia speak out against Pacific summit exclusions

Solomon Islands' decision to leave out dialogue partners sparks finger-pointing

14 August 2025
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, right, speaks next to Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, on Aug. 11. (AAP/via REUTERS)
International relations

Australia to recognize Palestinian state next month at UN, PM says

Country joins with UK, Canada and France; New Zealand considers following suit

11 August 2025
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele speaks at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga in August 2024. (Photo by Rurika Imahashi)
International relations

China, US and Taiwan locked out of Pacific Islands Forum meeting

Host Solomon Islands says no PIF dialogue partners to be invited to gathering

7 August 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump greets Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on Feb. 7. Australia's deal with Japan on frigates is a win for the U.S. as well, analysts say.
Indo-Pacific

Frigate deal is win-win for Japan, Australia, Trump, analysts say

Unlike AUKUS, new agreement does not burden American industry

6 August 2025