Koror (Palau) (AFP) – At least five leaders will skip the Pacific Island region's annual summit, officials said Monday, hours before the opening of talks overshadowed by Taiwan-China tensions.
Issued on: 31/08/2026 - 05:48Modified: 31/08/2026 - 07:28
3 min Reading time
The gathering aims to grapple with challenges such as climate change, drug crime, and the Chinese test-firing of a ballistic missile in July that landed in the Pacific Ocean.China's security and economic influence has added resonance this year, because the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum is being hosted by Palau, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan.Beijing has protested against Taiwan's inclusion among aid partners invited to attend along with China, Singapore, Japan, Britain and the United States.China, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, also declared Palau an "unsafe" place for tourists.The Pacific forum, which will culminate with a leaders' retreat on Thursday, has been touted for decades as a symbol of regional unity.But a growing number of leaders are skipping this year's forum and sending lower-ranked ministers in their place.Samoa's government said in a statement its delegation would be led by the deputy prime minister.The prime minister of Vanuatu and the head of government of the French territory of New Caledonia will also skip the summit, a forum official told journalists.No confidence motionKiribati's president has already said he will not be attending.Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale unexpectedly flew out of Palau on Sunday to deal with a political crisis at home after a no-confidence motion was lodged against his leadership.
