Undersea Cables: The Official Perspectives in the Pacific

The Sea Power Centre is proud to introduce the new Sea Power Centre Lecture Series: Understanding the Maritime Domain.

Lectures will be given throughout the year and will be held in the Ngunnawal Theatre with online attendance available through Teams (link below). Attendees will enjoy hearing from experts and professional speakers from across academia and Defence on a range of topics aimed at enhancing knowledge and encouraging discussion about history and contemporary affairs within the maritime domain and their relevance to Australia.

We invite you to join us for our fourth and final session for 2026 which will be presented by Dr Amanda Watson from the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University.

Lecture title:

Undersea Cables: The Official Perspectives Expressed in the Pacific Region

This lecture is based on a research project which has investigated the standpoints of Pacific leaders in relation to undersea communication cables. This research has examined key documents and statements of the Pacific Islands Forum, the regional grouping of Pacific governments, to determine how undersea cables are viewed. The views of Pacific leaders, as articulated in official documents and public statements, differ from the views of others. These differing views are reflected in different approaches.

Pacific leaders view cables as infrastructures that can enable and enhance digital connectivity and thus support social and economic development outcomes. While donors also view cables as infrastructures that can enable and enhance digital connectivity, they may make decisions about cable infrastructure projects with geopolitical considerations in mind in the current context.

This research has found that Pacific leaders are primarily concerned with improving digital connectivity and enhancing cybersecurity. Nonetheless, Pacific leaders are working towards their development objectives strategically in the current geopolitical context. While the Pacific Islands Forum does acknowledge that it is operating within a context of heightened geopolitical competition, it is endeavouring to remain focused on achievement of its development objectives, which include digital connectivity. Pacific perspectives are not prominent in the available literature on topics relating to the Pacific region. This lecture will aim to address that gap by demonstrating that Pacific governments and their leaders are being strategic in their approaches to the current geopolitical context.

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/436654316344801?p=eqkQp796Yu10ndoB2z

Meeting ID: 436 654 316 344 801

Passcode: gR6et68X