Written by Drake Long
While the ISA Council could not agree on regulations, it did agree that it would from now on have oversight over the seabed mining application process instead of the ISA’s exclusive Legal and Technical Commission.
Read MoreWritten by Drake Long
While the ISA Council could not agree on regulations, it did agree that it would from now on have oversight over the seabed mining application process instead of the ISA’s exclusive Legal and Technical Commission.
Read MoreWritten by Drake Long
The ground laid in 2022 will ensure that state-backed exploration of seabed mining will continue, and 2023 may see the first steps taken towards commercial-scale exploitation of the seabed.
Read MoreWritten by Kyoko Hatakeyama
Moreover, since Japan has maintained a stable relationship with China — despite their territorial disputes — the region does not have to worry about backlash or anger from China just because they choose Japan over China.
Read MoreWritten by Alan Tidwell
For the Pacific Islands, bilateral deals with the PRC may chip away at the regional consensus over time, but in turn, Beijing’s energy will inevitably spark new challenges to regionalism.
Read MoreWritten by Joanne Wallis
Pacific Island leaders have developed ‘tactical, shrewd and calculating approaches’ towards using their agency to exploit strategic competition between powers to pursue their own priorities, including greater access to aid, concessional loans, military assistance, and international influence.
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