French Polynesia Politics: Pro-independence forces won elections on French Polynesia, taking control of the regional assembly for five years and setting up a push for a possible referendum on the territory’s status. Pacific Security: China’s first publicly acknowledged submarine-launched long-range ballistic missile test since 2024—fired from a nuclear submarine into the Pacific with a dummy warhead—triggered swift condemnation from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the United States, with Beijing calling it routine training and saying relevant countries were notified in advance. Regional Diplomacy: Pacific civil society groups and Pacific Elders criticized major powers for treating the Blue Pacific as a geopolitical arena, urging stronger climate action and rejecting militarisation and nuclear threats. Fukushima Waste Debate: The Pacific Islands Forum’s new secretary general demanded clearer, evidence-based answers on Japan’s plan to discharge treated Fukushima wastewater, saying the region is entitled to independent scientific assessments. Local Partnerships & Capacity: A Cook Islands–French Polynesia–linked maritime cooperation effort saw RNZ personnel support regional security and humanitarian training, while American Samoa awarded DXN a contract for a cable landing station tied to the La Vasa subsea link. Governance & Oversight: A Senate report on France’s overseas territories calls for breaking a “vicious cycle” of inequality—an issue that resonates across the Pacific political landscape.