China and Australia pushing the Pacific’s pulse

Published

2 years ago

June 2, 2022

China’s Foreign Minister is on his seventh stop in Pacific, as tensions continue to rise

Wang Yi has travelled to Papua New Guinea, which is the seventh stop in his diplomatic push in the Pacific.

PNG is heading into a national election, and local media is reporting Beijing’s plans for a regional security deal are causing conflict in the island-nation.

The nation’s former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill is on the campaign trail and has criticised the timing of Wang’s visit.

O’Neill believes no agreements should be signed with China before the election.

Meanwhile, Yi has been on a diplomatic tour of the Pacific, as he seeks to drum up support for greater security cooperation among island states.

The Chinese foreign minister will travel to eight countries, with Timor-Leste next on his list.

His tour has sparked concern among the U.S., New Zealand and Australia, who are fearful of China’s growing dominance in the region.

Allan Behm from The Australia Institute describes China’s strategy as “noticeable, big [and] highly theatrical”.

Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong, who recently returned from Fiji, is visiting Samoa and Tonga.

Australia is focussing on humanitarian support, and action on climate change.

Senator Wong has laid out an eight-year deal with Samoa to address human development and maritime support.

“China is focussed on security, and I think in the circumstances in which the Pacific countries find themselves, they’re more likely to be attracted to the options that Senator Wong is putting forward.”
ALLAN Behm, THE AUSTRALIA INSTITUTE

China is seeking a security and trade deal with 10 Pacific nations. Its foreign minister has so far signed a dozen bilateral agreements.

But Senator Wong says Australia is also seeking greater relations with its close neighbours.

“We understand that we need to work together like never before, for our peoples and for generations to come.”

“We want to make a uniquely Australian contribution to help build a stronger Pacific family,” she says.

The EV transformation expands to legacy vehicles

Published

12 hours ago

April 29, 2024

ticker NEWS

This week witnessed another milestone in the automotive industry as the legendary Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen embarked on its electric journey, aligning with global sustainability efforts.

Simultaneously, Toyota and Mazda debuted EV offerings tailored for the booming Chinese market, signalling a strategic shift towards collaboration with advanced Chinese partners.

While the electric G-Wagen promises both eco-friendliness and off-road prowess with its innovative design, questions arise about Japanese automakers’ perceived lag in EV development, countered by the strategic imperative to tap into the rapidly growing Chinese EV market. As automotive icons embrace electrification and traditional players adapt through partnerships, it’s clear that collaboration and innovation will drive the future of mobility.

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The degree dilemma, income shifts, debt, and dream homes

Published

13 hours ago

April 29, 2024

ticker NEWS

As individuals face the daunting choice between paying off student debt, saving for a first home deposit, or exploring alternative options like rentvesting, careful consideration of various factors becomes imperative.

In the midst of these challenges, a couple in the inner north ingeniously employed a strategy to realise their dream of a larger home while managing HECS debt and affordability hurdles.

Rentvesting emerges as a viable solution for individuals grappling with the burdens of high HECS debt and property affordability issues.

Moreover, the decreasing income premium tied to a university degree is closely intertwined with changing economic dynamics and shifts in the job market, underscoring the need for innovative approaches to education and financial planning in today’s society.

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President Biden signs TikTok bill – what’s next?

Published

3 days ago

April 26, 2024

ticker NEWS

TikTok users could soon find that the popular social media service is either under new ownership or could be outright banned in the United States.

President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that requires TikTok to find a new owner—or face a ban in the United States.

Over the past several months, Washington D.C. has been under pressure to ban the popular Chinese-owned social media app.

Lawmakers and security experts have long raised concerns that the Chinese government could tap TikTok’s trove of personal data about millions of U.S. users.

TikTok’s CEO said the bill is disappointing and reiterated that the company has committed to challenge it.

David Zhang from China Insider. joins Veronica Dudo to discuss