And French President Emmanuel Macron​ announced France would launch a South Pacific coast guard network to counter predatory behaviour in the region. “New Zealand is a Pacific nation and our national security and wellbeing are intrinsically linked to the peace and stability of the Pacific,” the spokesman said. At the same time Pacific countries are better resourced to do their own patrolling – Australia is currently donating 21 ​new patrol boats to 12 countries​ in the Pacific and Timor Leste. The region faces a number of key security challenges such as transnational organised crime, and illegal, unregulated or underreported fishing, says Pacific Islands​ Forum Secretary-General Henry Puna. In recent years, Australia has launched its Pacific Step Up, New Zealand a Pacific Reset and the US a Pacific Pledge.

Source: Stuff August 06, 2021 16:52 UTC