Amid a US retreat from the Pacific under President Donald Trump, and intense competition for regional influence between Australia and China, the Pacific faces mounting pressures from climate change, transnational crime, internal instability, and at times even political upheaval.

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Please join us for an insightful panel discussion with the ABC’s in-country Pacific journalists working on the frontlines of the rapidly changing political and security landscape in our near region.

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Hosted by:

Mihai Sora, Director, Pacific Islands Program, Lowy Institute

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Special guest speakers:

Chrisnrita Aumanu-Leong, Solomon Islands correspondent

Belinda Kora, Papua New Guinea correspondent

Marian Kupu, Tonga correspondent

Lice Movono, Fiji correspondent

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Opening remarks:

‍Andrew Griffits, Head of Media and Communications, Lowy Institute

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This special event coincides with the second anniversary of the founding of the Pacific Local Journalism Network (PLJN), a flagship program supported by ABC International Services under the ABC’s Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy.