The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands&nbsp;will skip this week's annual Pacific Islands Forum that starts on Monday in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, reports said. Instead, the leaders will send their representatives.

This, as per Reuters, may pose a challenge for regional unity as China and the United States compete for influence.

<h2>US-China and a race for South Pacific influence</h2>

Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, which have been courted by both China and the US for security and economic ties in the strategic South Pacific, will send ministers to the bloc meeting.

Reuters reported that Papua New Guinea's Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso will attend the meeting. An official of the bloc's most populous nation shared this information with the news agency. However, they failed to specify why Prime Minister James Marape is skipping the annual meet.

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From Vanuatu, Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu will attend on behalf of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai.

Solomon Islands' government announced that its Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele will lead the nation's delegation. The country specified that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is "tied down with duties as Minister for Pacific Games" and parliament.

Furthermore, New Zealand, still without a government after the election, will send a representative from the incoming National government and deputy prime minister from the caretaker Labour government.

<h2>What is the Pacific Islands Forum?</h2>

Founded in 1971, the Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation. It comprises 18 members: nations from three sub-regions - Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia - as well as Australia and New Zealand.

As per the forum's website, its vision "is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives."

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The upcoming session, which will be held from 6 to 10 November 2023, is the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Meeting, and it will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Honourable Mark Brown.

During this four-day meeting, the focus as per Reuters will be on "strengthening regionalism". However, as per Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Regenvanu, with key nations not sending leaders, that would be challenging.

It has said the region's greatest challenge is rising sea levels and worsening storms caused by climate change.

(With inputs from agencies)

The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands will skip this week's annual Pacific Islands Forum that starts on Monday in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, reports said.

The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands will skip this week's annual Pacific Islands Forum that starts on Monday in Rarotonga, Cook Islands, reports said. Instead, the leaders will send their representatives. This, as per Reuters, may pose a challenge for regional unity as China and the United States compete for influence. US-China and a race for South Pacific influence Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea, which have been courted by both China and the US for security and economic ties in the strategic South Pacific, will send ministers to the bloc meeting. Reuters reported that Papua New Guinea's Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso will attend the meeting. An official of the bloc's most populous nation shared this information with the news agency. However, they failed to specify why Prime Minister James Marape is skipping the annual meet. Also read | Israel-Hamas war: Boris Johnson visits Kibbutz, says memory of Holocaust 'starting to fade' From Vanuatu, Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu will attend on behalf of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai. Solomon Islands' government announced that its Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele will lead the nation's delegation. The country specified that Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is "tied down with duties as Minister for Pacific Games" and parliament. Furthermore, New Zealand, still without a government after the election, will send a representative from the incoming National government and deputy prime minister from the caretaker Labour government. What is the Pacific Islands Forum? Founded in 1971, the Pacific Islands Forum is the region’s premier political and economic policy organisation. It comprises 18 members: nations from three sub-regions - Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia - as well as Australia and New Zealand. As per the forum's website, its vision "is for a region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, so that all Pacific people can lead free, healthy, and productive lives." Also read | China faces persistent deflation challenges as economic fragility persists The upcoming session, which will be held from 6 to 10 November 2023, is the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Meeting, and it will be chaired by the Prime Minister of Cook Islands, Honourable Mark Brown. During this four-day meeting, the focus as per Reuters will be on "strengthening regionalism". However, as per Vanuatu's Climate Change Minister Regenvanu, with key nations not sending leaders, that would be challenging. It has said the region's greatest challenge is rising sea levels and worsening storms caused by climate change. (With inputs from agencies)

China tussle? Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands leaders to skip Pacific Islands Forum meet

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will meet the Pacific Islands leaders next month in Papua New Guinea for a “historic future-oriented” meeting, the region’s Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement on Sunday.

“This is a historic first and at the same time a ‘going forward’ futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific,” Marape said.

Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia, on May 24.

It will be the first official visit to Papua New Guinea for both the state leaders. While Modi’s two-day visit to the island country will begin on May 21, Biden will land on May 22.

Both will participate at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit (India Pacific Summit) on May 22.

The Forum brings together 14 Pacific Islands — Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with India at the head of state/ government level.

For the Biden administration, strengthening ties with Papa New Guinea is major key security policy as the island nation is being courted by China, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018.

<h2>Indian PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ hits a century today</h2>

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Washington’s renewed efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region stems from the decision taken by Solomon Islands last year to sign a security pact with Beijing.

China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors to Papa New Guinea, according to Reuters news agency.

On the other&nbsp;hand, Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year.

"In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said.

Marape said he had invited the US president when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country".

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will meet the Pacific Islands leaders next month in Papua New Guinea for a “historic future-oriented” meeting, the region’s Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement on Sunday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden will meet the Pacific Islands leaders next month in Papua New Guinea for a “historic future-oriented” meeting, the region’s Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement on Sunday. “This is a historic first and at the same time a ‘going forward’ futuristic meeting of global superpowers, in the biggest country in the Pacific,” Marape said. Modi and Biden will stop in Papua New Guinea on the way to Australia for the Quad, which also includes Japan and Australia, on May 24. It will be the first official visit to Papua New Guinea for both the state leaders. While Modi’s two-day visit to the island country will begin on May 21, Biden will land on May 22. Both will participate at the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation Summit (India Pacific Summit) on May 22. The Forum brings together 14 Pacific Islands — Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu with India at the head of state/ government level. For the Biden administration, strengthening ties with Papa New Guinea is major key security policy as the island nation is being courted by China, as Marape seeks to boost foreign investment. Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the nation in 2018. Indian PM Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ hits a century today Washington’s renewed efforts to counter Beijing's growing influence in the region stems from the decision taken by Solomon Islands last year to sign a security pact with Beijing. China and Australia have been major aid and infrastructure donors to Papa New Guinea, according to Reuters news agency. On the other hand, Papua New Guinea is negotiating security pacts with the United States and Australia, and Marape has been invited to visit Beijing this year. "In the Indo-Pacific conversation, PNG and the Pacific cannot be ignored. With our combined forest and sea areas, we have the world's greatest carbon sink, and the biggest sea and air space on earth," Marape said. Marape said he had invited the US president when they met in Washington last year, and was "very honoured that he has fulfilled his promise to me to visit our country". (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Indian PM Modi, US President Biden to meet Pacific Islands leaders in Papua New Guinea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/in-order-to-stop-lone-wolf-attackers-nations-must-unitenato-chief-241075">The gunman&nbsp;accused&nbsp;of killing 51 people in&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand</a>&nbsp;has handwritten a&nbsp;letter&nbsp;from&nbsp;jail&nbsp;expressing his political and social views, prompting <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-pm-jacinda-ardern-utterly-disagrees-with-trump-tweets-on-congresswomen-236470">Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern </a>to say that should never have been allowed, media said on Wednesday.

The&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;Herald had an image of the six-page&nbsp;letter&nbsp;and envelope&nbsp;from&nbsp;the alleged mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant, sent&nbsp;from&nbsp;Auckland Prison, which was posted&nbsp;online&nbsp;on the controversial imageboard 4chan.

It was said to have been in response to a&nbsp;letter&nbsp;sent to him by a person named Alan who is said to live in Russia.

"I think every&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealander would have an expectation that this individual should not be able to share his hateful message&nbsp;from&nbsp;behind bars," Ardern was quoted telling reporters in Tuvalu, where she is attending the Pacific Islands Forum.

"Obviously, this is an offender who has a very specific goal in mind, in terms of sharing his propaganda, so we should have been prepared for that."

Prisoners are allowed to send and receive mail and prison directors can only withhold it in certain circumstances.

"We have made changes to the management of this prisoner's mail to ensure that our robust processes are as effective as we need them to be,"&nbsp;New&nbsp;Zealand's Department of Corrections said in a statement quoted in the paper.

The&nbsp;letter&nbsp;mentioned a visit by Tarrant to Russia four years ago, media said.

New&nbsp;Zealand&nbsp;site&nbsp;Newshub said the last two lines of the&nbsp;letter&nbsp;could be read as a call to arms but blanked out what it said.

Tarrant, an Australian, pleaded not guilty to 92 charges stemming&nbsp;from&nbsp;the massacre at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15. He faces trial in May 2020.

The gunman accused of killing 51 people in New Zealand has handwritten a letter from jail expressing his political and social views, prompting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to say that should never have been allowed, media said on Wednesday.

The gunman accused of killing 51 people in New Zealand has handwritten a letter from jail expressing his political and social views, prompting Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to say that should never have been allowed, media said on Wednesday. The New Zealand Herald had an image of the six-page letter and envelope from the alleged mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant, sent from Auckland Prison, which was posted online on the controversial imageboard 4chan. It was said to have been in response to a letter sent to him by a person named Alan who is said to live in Russia. "I think every New Zealander would have an expectation that this individual should not be able to share his hateful message from behind bars," Ardern was quoted telling reporters in Tuvalu, where she is attending the Pacific Islands Forum. "Obviously, this is an offender who has a very specific goal in mind, in terms of sharing his propaganda, so we should have been prepared for that." Prisoners are allowed to send and receive mail and prison directors can only withhold it in certain circumstances. "We have made changes to the management of this prisoner's mail to ensure that our robust processes are as effective as we need them to be," New Zealand's Department of Corrections said in a statement quoted in the paper. The letter mentioned a visit by Tarrant to Russia four years ago, media said. New Zealand site Newshub said the last two lines of the letter could be read as a call to arms but blanked out what it said. Tarrant, an Australian, pleaded not guilty to 92 charges stemming from the massacre at two mosques in Christchurch on March 15. He faces trial in May 2020.

Accused New Zealand gunman's letter from jail circulates online