The funding is part of Australia’s overall aid package aimed in part at countering China’s growing influence in the Pacific.
Johnson Honimae,the national broadcaster’s chief executive,said the news outlet had taken “critical calls” from the PM’s office but was operating normally.
The US delegation will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal where the US battled Japan for dominance of the South Pacific during World War II.
Albanese insists Pacific leaders have welcomed Labor’s updated targets but in private meetings,regional envoys have urged the government to do more.
Pat Conroy says Australia is open to collaborating with China on Pacific infrastructure but warned Beijing must lift the quality of its projects and hire more local workers.
Ahead of her meeting with her China counterpart,Penny Wong criticised Beijing’s failure to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.
Australia’s ambassador to China has met with China’s vice-foreign minister in Beijing,days before the country’s foreign ministers are due to cross paths in Bali.
Andrew Hastie has conceded it appears China wants a military base in the Solomons,while Labor says it can move Australia’s relationship with China onto a better track.
The commitments followed hours of meetings in the capital Honiara two months after Sogavare signed a security deal with Beijing.
When China’s foreign minister walked into a meeting this week,he expected a better reception than the one that awaited him.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong will fly into Samoa and Tonga just days after Beijing’s top envoy signed deals with the island nations.