Australia, Japan, and the United States will fund an undersea cable to drive faster internet and grow connectivity to three Pacific countries. The Pacific allies will work with the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru to provide better internet capacity. A joint statement between six countries released on Sunday included Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Japan Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The six-country partnership would result in higher quality and more reliable and secure communications to about 100,000 people, the statement said. “This will support increased economic growth, drive development opportunities, and help to improve living standards as the region recovers from the severe impacts of COVID-19.” The joint infrastructure investment comes at a time of “unprecedented economic and strategic challenges in our region.” Concern have increased in the Indo-Pacific region amid tensions between socialist China and liberal democratic Taiwan. Chinese fighter jets continue …