The Yegiora Files

On August 2, 2025, I officially concluded the online survey component of my PhD research titled “The Influence of China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs on Sino–Papua New Guinea Relations.” This marks a significant milestone in the data collection phase of a study that seeks to understand how educational exchanges between PNG and China shape personal experiences, cultural exchange, and diplomatic ties. The survey was launched on April 2, 2025, and was initially scheduled to close on July 2. However, due to the need for a larger and more representative sample, I extended the survey period by one month, ultimately reaching a total of 230 valid responses . The survey targeted PNG citizens who had participated in various Chinese Higher Education Exchange Programs. These programs include Chinese Government Scholarships, Chinese Language Programs, Public Sector Training Programs, PNG Government STEM Scholarships, and Privately Sponsored study opportunities. Participants were drawn from...

A recent article in the Post-Courier titled “Strengthening China–PNG Relations Through Military Engagements” sheds light on the deepening defence ties between PNG and China. Among the developments highlighted is the expansion of scholarship opportunities for PNGDF officers and other government officials to undertake military training and educational programs in China. The number of participants has increased to fourteen this year, indicating Beijing’s growing interest in building enduring relationships with PNG’s security institutions through education diplomacy. Ambassador Yang Xiaoguang, Minister for Defence Dr. Billy Joseph, and Defence Attaché Colonel Jiang Tuan pose with PNGDF officials at the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby during the 2025 military scholarship presentation, reinforcing bilateral defence ties through education and training exchanges. (Image: Post-Courier, 29 July 2025) . While discussions about China’s strategic ambitions in PNG often focus on infrastructure inv...

This blog is written in response to Michael Kabuni’s public call on Facebook , where he raised valid concerns over a historical inaccuracy attributed to Prime Minister James Marape. In a statement circulated through official and public channels, the Prime Minister claimed he was “the first Papua New Guinea Prime Minister to hold formal bilateral talks in the White House.” Let us be clear: Prime Minister Marape’s 2025 engagement with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House is diplomatically significant and reflects PNG’s growing role in regional and global affairs. That should be acknowledged. However, the claim of being the first to hold such talks is factually incorrect . On 7 May 1990 , Prime Minister Rabbie Namaliu held formal bilateral discussions with U.S. President George H.W. Bush in the Oval Office and White House patio . This meeting was part of an official state visit—clearly within the definition of bilateral diplomacy between sovereign governments. Prime M...

In examining how China’s HEEPs influence relations between PNG and China, I designed my PhD study to reflect the diversity of educational exchange pathways. Among the seven survey groups, the Public Sector Training Program (PSTP) cohort stands out as a critical focus—not just for their participation in short- and medium-term training in China, but also because of their role in implementing national policies back home. This group includes officers and professionals from the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) , National Department of Health (NDoH) , and the Department of Defence and PNG Defence Force (DoD/DF) . A March 2023 news article from the Post-Courier highlighting China’s training of PNG officials in the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) concept—an example of Public Sector Training Programs (PSTPs) shaping technical cooperation between the two countries. These individuals are strategically important because they occupy positions within government systems where the knowledge, val...

In conducting a nationwide and internationally scoped PhD project, one of the most practical challenges is reaching participants who are geographically scattered, institutionally diverse, and sometimes unknown to the researcher at the outset. This was the case for my study on the influence of China’s HEEPs on PNG–China relations. While I had conceptualized seven survey groups—including CGSP students, alumni, and participants in Chinese Language and Public Sector Training Programs—I needed a reliable and ethical way to identify and engage them. This is where LinkedIn became a vital tool in my research process. To build trust and visibility, I updated my LinkedIn profile to clearly identify myself as a PhD candidate at Divine Word University. I also added a concise summary of my research focus, uploaded a graduation photo from Jilin University , and used an AI-generated banner image symbolizing PNG–China educational cooperation. This visual storytelling helped signal my credibility an...

The growing influence of China’s Higher Education Exchange Programs (HEEPs) in PNG is no longer confined to theory or abstract policy discussion. It is unfolding in real time through the partnerships, programs, and student engagement facilitated by institutions like the University of Goroka (UoG) and the University of Technology (UoT). These two universities have become important actors in PNG’s education diplomacy, working with Chinese institutions and government partners to enhance language education, expand international linkages, and improve the quality of higher education. It is precisely this real-world engagement that my PhD research seeks to study, understand, and support. My research is not merely about assessing impact from afar. It is designed to provide evidence-based insights into how PNG’s participation in Chinese education programs is shaping bilateral relations, especially in the areas of diplomacy, cultural exchange, and development cooperation. UoG and UoT—through t...