The military and economic rise of China has seen tensions between Beijing, Washington and Canberra play out in the South-West Pacific region.

The Australian Government’s Pacific Labour Scheme (PLS) provides workers from nine Pacific island countries for employment in rural and regional Australia for up to three years. It marked one year of operation on 30 June and according to some, there was little to celebrate. However this article argues it’s early days yet.

The Seasonal Worker Programme (SWP), which allows workers from the Pacific and Timor-Leste to work on Australian farms for up to nine months, grew by 44% in 2018-19 or by some 3,000 workers – the largest absolute increase ever and one of the highest percentage growth rates.

This paper argues that China’s rise, coupled with the established influence of the U.S in the South-West Pacific, could see the region become yet another proxy battlefield in the two antagonists’ power-plays.

At Pacific Urban Forum5 (PUF5), Pacific Island governments, non-government organisations and academic institutions were well represented with the geographic spread of representation and attendance numbers the highest yet. This briefing paper provides an overview of the prominent issues at the PUF5 and an analysis of future prospects for sustainable urban development in the region.