How China Looms Over Palau’s Economy
September 30th, 2024
Via the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, an article on how giant China looms over tiny Palau’s economy: Palau is finding itself increasingly entangled in China’s economic web—in many cases, it seems, because Beijing is controlling investment and business links with the strategically critical Pacific nation of 18,000 people. Beijing is using tactics such as creating […]
Read more »America’s Small Pacific Allies Vulnerable To China’s Pull
March 1st, 2024
Via The Washington Post, commentary on the risk that US politics has upon small Pacific allies vulnerable to China’s pull: As Congress continues to struggle to pass national security funding, there’s plenty of concern about the impact for Ukraine and Israel. But Asian and Pacific allies are also watching anxiously as Washington dithers. For three small but important island […]
Read more »Pacific Nations Caught in China-U.S. Rivalry
February 12th, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, an article on Pacific nations caught in China-U.S. rivalry, with PNG aiming for stable relations with both, while Palau awaits Washington funding: Pacific island nations are seeking to balance emerging economic opportunities against the risks of being caught in the crossfire of U.S.-China rivalry, as geopolitical competition intensifies in the region. Ministers […]
Read more »Palau’s Plan to Reopen A Marine Sanctuary For Industrial Fishing
January 24th, 2024
Courtesy of Bloomberg, an article on the Nature Conservancy’s role in the Palau government’s move to reopen an ocean reserve to industrial fishing highlights the global debate over how to aid Pacific island nations imperiled by climate change: Every coastal nation controls the 244 miles of the ocean that extends from its shores. These “exclusive […]
Read more »America Is Winning Against China in Oceania
June 2nd, 2023
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, analysis on why there may be less to Beijing’s security gains in the Pacific than meets the eye: April 20, 2022, was a dark day for the United States in Oceania. On that day, China signed its first-ever security agreement in the South Pacific, with the Solomon Islands authorizing Chinese navy […]
Read more »As U.S. Competes With China, It Seals 3 deals in Pacific Islands
May 31st, 2023
Courtesy of Axios, an article on three recent US deals with Pacific Island states: A U.S. diplomatic offensive to counter China’s growing clout in the Pacific Islands appears to be paying dividends, with three agreements sealed within 48 hours. The big picture: The Biden administration has focused far more attention on the Pacific islands — […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.