By Kim Kunwoo When the Solomon Islands switched diplomatic ties from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People’s Republic of China in 2019, bulldozers followed close behind. Highways, ports, stadiums, and utilities rose almost overnight, financed under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Yet beneath the surface lies a more troubling construction project, one reshaping the foundations of the islands’ polity. Western concerns about the BRI in the Pacific have centered

By Patrick Luo Picture Credit: Johan Mouchet It is January 26th. Australia Day. Thousands of Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians, march through Sydney holding banners reading “Invasion Day – January 26, 1788.” Nearby, thousands of others wave blue Australian flags, carrying signs that say “Proud to be a True Blue Aussie.” That image reflects an internal battle within me about where I stand. Is January 26, 1788, a day worth celebrating? Is it a day to celebrate wh

By Keanu Lis Picture Credit: Daniel Rodriguez Diversity sits at the very heart of Polynesian identity. Long before modern borders, Polynesian peoples crossed vast oceans, journeying from Asia and settling across the Pacific through extraordinary feats of navigation and resilience. This history of movement shaped not only island societies, but also a deep-rooted openness: a cultural instinct to welcome, to share, and to connect with those who arrive from afar. That openness is