The United States on cautioned Pacific Islands nations against assistance from Chinese security forces after Reuters reported that Chinese police are working in the remote atoll nation of Kiribati, a neighbor of Hawaii.

Tuvalu on Monday announced former attorney general and fisheries official Feleti Teo as its new prime minister, after he was elected unopposed by lawmakers in the Pacific Islands nation, officials said.

At least 64 people have died in an ambush in Papua New Guinea’s remote Highlands region.

Papua New Guinea’s opposition party lodged a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister James Marape when the Pacific Island nation’s parliament returned on Tuesday, the first session since deadly riots in January during a police strike.

The pro-Taiwan leader of the Pacific Islands nation of Tuvalu, Kausea Natano, lost his seat in an election closely watched by Taiwan, China and the U.S., partial results showed.

Tuvalu expects to review its diplomatic ties with Taiwan after Friday’s election.

Prominent Pacific politician Hilda Heine has been voted in as the new president of Marshall Islands following a narrow election win, that saw her defeat the incumbent by a single vote.

A Chinese company began logging in Vanuatu during recent political turmoil, residents said, raising concern over the environment and workers in military uniforms in a Pacific Island nation where Beijing and Washington vie for influence.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday signed a bilateral agreement with Tuvalu, aimed at countering China’s influence in the Pacific and protecting the tiny island nation from climate change.

An attempt by Pacific Islands Forum leaders to revisit a unity pact has sparked a walk-out by Nauru, showing tensions remain close to the surface at the pivotal regional body.

The PIF Leaders’ Meeting is an important chance to jolt the world into action on a climate Loss and Damage Fund after
decades of fighting for justice.

The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting this week takes place amid a changing dynamic of security and development in the region.