It’s @dfat estimates today - the FM’s opening statement includes stronger language urging Israel against mounting a ground assault on Rafah: “do not go down this path” 1/ Birmingham presses Wong on this statement. The FM runs through a long list of similar statements on Rafah from several Western leaders and counterparts. Birmingham asks if Australia backs military operations to rescue hostages in Rafah. Wong isn’t really drawn on this 2/

OK. Thread on a very odd story. Earlier this week a mysterious anonymous source emailed a host of journos to say 1) they worked for the PNG Government and 2) had a copy of the PNG-US security pact which they wanted to share 1/ rnz.co.nz/international/… The source emailed the ABC (and other outlets) screenshots purporting to show a draft of US-PNG security pact. Agreement seemed to offer US wide military wide scope to operate in PNG, and potentially immunity for US personnel. The source said they wanted to stop it going ahead 2/

Xiao Qian now speaking at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. He says he called the press conference to mark the new year, and reflect on the path forward for China and Australia. He says 2022 was an "extraordinary year" for the bilateral relationship 1/

https://twitter.com/stephendziedzic/status/1612600045102333953

The Ambassador says there are four "key words" he wants to emphasise when he looks back on 2022. He says the first is the new ALP government. He says "when Labor came to power it did offer an opportunity to reset the relationship" 2/

A few notes on diplomatic appointments. Senior @dfat official Justin Hayhurst finished up as Deputy Secretary Geostrategic Group last week and is "preparing for another assignment." He's widely tipped to be appointed as Australia's next Ambassador to Japan. We'll see! 1/ Over the weekend the government appointed former Macquarie Group CEO Nicholas Moore as their Special Envoy for Southeast Asia. Unsurprisingly, he'll have a very strong focus on business, and work on the 2040 Southeast Asia Economic Strategy 2/ pm.gov.au/media/special-…

Penny Wong and India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar holding press conference in Canberra. Wong says the relationship with India is a “critical part” of Australia’s efforts to shape the region. Jaishankar calls discussions “useful, productive, comfortable” 1/ Will India back a planned UNGA resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Jaishankar won't flag India's vote in advance but says Delhi is "clearly against the conflict in Ukraine" + is increasingly concerned by impact on food/fuel prices, particularly in Global South 2/

Interesting exchange between Penny Wong and Simon Birmingham at the opening of Senate QT. Wong stresses the election support offer for Solomon Islands is NOT contingent on its timing - it's a "standing offer" for the election "whether held in 2023 or 2024" 1/ Was this offer first made only made late last week as claimed by Solomon Islands? Wong suggests there had been informal offers/discussions BEFORE that: "this is an offer that has been reiterated on more than one occasion, including by Minister Conroy as well as by officials" 2/

Timor Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta speaking at the National Press Club. He begins by confessing it's going to be fairly informal address - "I don't really have any speech or even prepared notes!" 1/ Speech has been extremely meandering so far covering a ... broad spectrum of topics ranging from his mission to Colombia, ASEAN, the war in Ukraine and challenges facing Timor Leste. Ramos-Horta by turns charming, whimsical and perhaps a bit distracted 2/

Thread on Australia's offer of support for Solomon Islands elections. I'm told the formal offer was made to Solomon Islands FM Jeremiah Manele last week. Sounds like it's also pretty broad. Australia willing to go above + beyond what it's already doing 1/ abc.net.au/radionational/… It comes not long after Opposition MPs appealed for Australia to intervene, and make an offer of support to ensure elections can be held in 2023. Unsurprisingly, Wong is *not* framing it in those terms 2/

Very odd brouhaha over the last 36 hrs about a rumoured Chinese "ban" on ag produce from Australia + NZ. First thing to emphasise: no goods are actually being blocked. The Chinese social media account which kickstarted *some* of the rumours is saying everything is now "normal" 1/ Some Chinese importers apparently said they’d heard a ban on Australian beef was imminent because of fears of foot and mouth disease. Which is odd as Australia remains FMD free. Others said they'd heard of a broader ban on Aus/NZ products (perhaps because of said rumours) 2/

Extraordinary situation in Kiribati. Yesterday the govt tried to deport judge David Lambourne (an Aust citizen) despite a court order ruling it illegal. Fiji Airways refused to take him against his will. Kiribati government then *refused to let the plane depart* for 3+ hours 1/ Eventually the Government relented, let the plane take off without Lambourne on board. The Govt previously suspended him due to “misconduct” (no details provided, denied by Lambourne) This morning he said he's being targeted because he’s married to the Opposition Leader 2/

China's Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian is speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra. I'll tweet excerpts here, and the ABC is also live blogging it below 1/ abc.net.au/news/2022-08-1… First observation: I can't see any Australian government representatives in the room. Certainly no Ministers or senior @dfat officials (although it's possible there are junior or mid level officials here who I don't recognise) Some reps from diplomatic corps *are* attending 2/

Pacific Minister Pat Conroy announces that Australia will contribute almost $100 million SDB ($16.5 million AUD) for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands. It makes Australia the second largest contributor to the event behind China (which is building a major stadium) Just listening back to the media event where Conroy announced this support along with Manasseh Sogavare. The PM is quite ebullient, heaping praise on Australia. He says the contribution is "another important milestone in the country’s journey towards the 2023 Pacific Games" 2/

Brief but rather frenetic burst of activity from various Chinese diplomatic missions across the Pacific in the wake of Pelosi's Taiwan visit. In Suva, China's Ambassador Qian Bo has penned an op-ed on the subject in the Fiji Sun. It has a rather ... forceful vibe 1/ Full piece here 2/ fj.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/sgxw/20220…

Not suggesting this is hugely significant but just worth noting there's clear air between Coalition and the Government on the Pelosi visit to Taiwan. Albanese and Wong were both determined not to offer a view (in public) but Dutton says he's pleased Pelosi took the trip I somehow missed this when I first read through this but quite a few people have also just pointed out that Dutton refers to Taiwan as an "independent country" in his answer 2/

Foreign Minister Penny Wong holding a press conference with her Latvian counterpart Edgars Rinkēvičs in Canberra. Heavy focus on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but Latvia’s FM says they also discussed regional tensions and Aus-EU FTA negotiations 1/ Rinkēvičs reiterates that he wants Russia to be declared a state sponsor of terrorism 2/

Somewhat strained pic of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman. A few other things worth noting about her visit as well 1/ Sherman has spoken with SIBC. Pretty pointed messaging here given the suspicion that Sogavare is intent on muzzling the broadcaster 2/

https://twitter.com/DeputySecState/status/1556367322826379265?s=20&t=adhd0vlXWRl2NbSodNZ4TA

Wong giving late press conference in Solomon Islands. She says she discussed the China security pact with Sogavare: "Australia's view remains that the Pacific family should be responsible for our security and the Pacific family is more than capable of providing that security" 1/ Wong says Sogavare assured her that there will be no foreign military base in Solomon Islands, and that Australia remains his country's "first security partner of choice" 2/

Penny Wong has met PM Sogavare in Honiara. Not much news yet. Mood in room seemed friendly during introductions, but hard to judge from footage. Wong received a traditional necklace, handed Sogavare a wrapped gift. On departure she called it a "warm discussion." Doorstop later 1/ Will keep on building on this thread. Wong is now visiting King George VI School where students are receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Bit of chat and banter with the kids. Livestream here for those interested 2/ facebook.com/SIBCOnline/vid…

Final snippets from Wong-Mahuta meeting. Press conference didn't yield much news, but interesting response from Mahuta when asked if traditional "division of labor" from Aust/NZ/US in Pacific diplomacy (Aust focus on Melanesia, NZ on Polynesia, US on Micronesia) still holds 1/ Here's the joint statement from both countries. Very few surprises in it 2/ foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny…

Thread on the Foreign's Minister latest trip to the Pacific. It's her third visit to the region in three weeks. @SenatorWong is currently meeting with Mahuta in Wellington. Joint press conference soon. Wong will next fly to Solomon Islands (tomorrow morning) for a brief visit 1/

https://twitter.com/benmackey/status/1537243670885584897

The FM spoke to RNZ this morning - it was a strong interview. Wong was asked about the China-Solomon Islands security pact. She reiterated Australia has deep concerns: "Pacific security should be provided by the Pacific family" 2/ rnz.co.nz/news/political…

A few interesting details re Penny Wong's visit to Solomon Islands on Friday. It doesn't look like she's meeting with the Opposition, or at least not in public - no mention of them in official schedule 1/ A clear contrast here with Kurt Campbell who met with Opposition Leader Matthew Wale and civil society groups while in Honiara 2/ solomonislandsherald.com/oppositioj-lea…