The concept of the Blue Pacific is central to Pacific regionalism. It serves as a narrative for rallying Pacific Islands countries to commitment to regionalism and collective diplomacy as well as a counter narrative to global geopolitical mappings. The Blue Pacific empowers Pacific Island countries by giving them agency to frame and tell their own narratives and map their region in context of increasing geopolitical competition.

In this episode we talk story with Dame Meg Taylor, the former Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and Sione Tekiteki, a senior lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology. We talanoa about the concept of the Blue Pacific, how it emerged, and what it means to the region.

In this two-part story, Oceania Currents dives into Guåhan’s rich and complex relationship with the Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC), produced with guest host Eva Aguon Cruz.

In episode one, we hear from three leading CHamoru cultural practitioners as they reflect on their journeys through FestPAC, from Guåhan’s first participation in 1976 to today: Leonard Iriarte, master chanter and founder of I Fanalai’an Oral History Project; Julie “Mama Jill” Benavente, master carver from artist co-operative Guinahan CHamoru; and Raphael Unpingco, multidisciplinary artist based at Sagan Kotturan CHamoru.

After the Cold War, US interest in the Pacific Islands waned. Assistance to Pacific Islands declined, and the US closed its embassies and consular offices in several Pacific Islands. However, China’s presence and influence in the Pacific Islands has triggered renewed interest from Western powers and a new geopolitical competition.

In this episode, we speak with Prof. Kenneth Gofigan Kuper (University of Guam) about militarization and US strategy in Guåhan and the broader Micronesian subregion and with journalist Nic Maclellan about European and Australian engagement with Oceania.