Blake Johnson

Oceania analyst - Interested in security and development, foreign influence, hybrid threats, and climate change | All opinions are my own

[Dan McGarry @VanuatuDan]

If the government is the only body that gets to say whether a newsroom is operating properly or not, then the media are not really free.

Refer the matter to an independent body.

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

Non-convential threats are driving the discussion for 🇸🇧 to establish a military. But if regional initiatives like the PPI, PRG & PFC are done right, they can help the whole region address those urgent issues. 🇸🇧 can have a military, but it shouldn't need one.

[The Lowy Institute @LowyInstitute]

Solomon Islands can have a military, but it shouldn’t need one | Blake Johnson https://t.co/JTSehxZ7vg

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

Australia isn't perfect and it's support to the Pacific is too big not to have occasional missteps. But the Pukpuk treaty is a reminder as Aus discusses other agreements in the region that each of these missteps are somewhere along the path to a more resilient and secure Pacific.

[The Lowy Institute @LowyInstitute]

Delays on the Pukpuk treaty with PNG were Australian missteps, not failures | Blake Johnson https://t.co/46JBIqubey

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

ICYMI: Pacific leaders reaffirm Taiwan’s PIF participation, back Australia’s COP bid, and back away from criticising the Albanese Government’s contentious North West Shelf decision https://t.co/vrOAfUfv6M

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Final press conference from PIF leaders meeting now beginning in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Highlights to follow 1/

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

The final part of the Friends to All series and my final contribution as the lead analyst in ASPI's Pacific team. But not the last you'll hear from me.

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: achieving Australia’s shared vision for the Pacific | @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young | https://t.co/MOJVoinR7l

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: What a friend wants, what a Pacific island country needs | Astrid Young and @Blake_J_Johnson | https://t.co/NZgDGIeVON

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: Falepili Union Treaty sets Tuvalu’s security, Australia must deliver | Astrid Young and @Blake_J_Johnson | https://t.co/Jq1K8eKpQ8

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: Tonga values independence while being reliable security partner | @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young | https://t.co/yK2q6j27QT

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Things very fluid on this right now. PNG PM James Marape signalling he’s not delighted with Manele’s proposal to resolve Taiwan issue by excluding all dialogue partners from PIF leaders meeting- he’ll call Manele and urge him to respect the “spirit of the structure” of PIF

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

'Australia should continue to make it clear when and where certain assistance from other foreign partners will jeopardise the effectiveness of Australian training and support,' write @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young. https://t.co/fkoZz1gnVl

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Story: looks like Solomon Islands might try to kick the can down the road re Taiwan's participation at PIF leaders meeting, and ask ***all*** partners to stay away. No China, no Taiwan, no US. Shades of Fiji 2022 (there's a procedural veil, but it's thin) https://t.co/TrFzSMC6Ls

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: No guarantee of light-touch security partnerships for Samoa | Astrid Young and @Blake_J_Johnson | https://t.co/AbF5ywaKdJ

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Tuvalu and Palau are now both using various channels to signal there will be serious problems if Taiwan isn't permitted to attend the PIF Leaders meeting in Honiara in September (which is now just six weeks away) https://t.co/nSKdWVNwKM

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: Nauru-Australia security treaty brings confidence and stability | @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young | https://t.co/djQtNLSrBb

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: Kiribati’s security partnership requires patience | @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young | https://t.co/arPjGfkQZH

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

The first country (alphabetically of course) in our 'Friends to all' strategist series on competition in Pacific security force partnerships and assistance is here

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

Friends to all: Fiji prioritises shared values and regional leadership | @Blake_J_Johnson and Astrid Young | https://t.co/ma4DoMHeQ0

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

See the introduction to our 'Friends to all' strategist series here. Over the next few weeks we'll aim to break down the security partnerships state of play across 9 Pacific Island countries.

[ASPI @ASPI_org]

'Security force partnerships are underpinned by what support Pacific countries need for their security development and what foreign partners want in exchange for providing that support,' write Blake Johnson and Astrid Young. https://t.co/xV2dbCQPzv

[Blake Johnson @Blake_J_Johnson]

Another great Pacific Perspectives article out in the strategist looking at the need for a Pacific maritime policy
https://t.co/QprjQ2xBu4

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Blunt from Rabuka. He's asked if China should be permitted to get a security foothold or military base in the Pacific. He says: "who would welcome them? Not Fiji." But he adds he isn't convinced Beijing *is* seeking such a presence, saying they don't need it to project power