Republished
Leaders missing and China ‘furious’: the Pacific Islands forum off to a decidedly shaky start
Five Pacific leaders absent, China furious over Taiwan's inclusion. The 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau. Republished from The Conversation.
Vuvale Union
Pacific Dispatch
The Vuvale Union's labour history problem
Australia's 32nd Recognition Day arrives seven weeks after the Vuvale Union treaty was signed in Suva. Both share a labour history neither Canberra nor Suva has fully reckoned with.
Who Holds Power
Ioane Naivalurua
Ioane Naivalurua controls policing and communications as Fiji heads to the 2026 election. Former Police Commissioner. Former Independent. Now inside Cabinet.
Analysis
What the Vuvale Union Treaty Doesn't Say
The Vuvale Union Treaty assessed against Fiji's Constitution. Five critical gaps. Parliamentary authority, judicial ouster, and defence sovereignty.
Podcast
FPR Podcast Launch: On the Record & Pacific Dispatch
FPR launches two new audio formats: On the Record, our interview podcast, and Pacific Dispatch, our audio essay series. Episode 1 of each is out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Analysis
When the Quad Comes Calling: Multilateral Architecture and Fiji’s Embedded Alignment
On 25 May, the Vuvale union appeared on the Fiji Parliament's order paper. The next day, the Quad named Fiji pilot for its first joint infrastructure project. The timing was coincidental; the architecture it exposed was not. They reveal how Fiji's strategic position is being shaped, and by whom.
Parliamentary Watch
Parliamentary Watch: The Vuvale Union and the Parliament That Has not Seen It
Cabinet has approved the Vuvale Union. Parliament has not. Under section 51 of the 2013 Constitution, that is a constitutional problem.
Analysis
Vuvale Development and the Caution of a Dependency Culture: Why Hard Work and Strategic Planning Matter More in the Pacific
Is Fiji building genuine self-reliance — or deepening dependency? Associate Professor Andrew Levula calls for strategic investment in human capital and a return to Pacific values of discipline and preparation.