Pacific Islands Forum leaders will focus on transnational drug crime, climate change and other regional priorities in Palau, while tensions involving China, Taiwan and the US threaten to dominate the summit
Pacific island leaders will meet in Palau from Monday for the Pacific Islands Forum summit, where they are expected to strengthen regional cooperation against transnational drug crime while addressing climate change, food security and renewable energy.
Palau, host of the 18-member forum this year, is one of three Pacific countries that maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China. Beijing is also a major creditor to many Pacific island states.
China, Taiwan and the United States are among the forum’s invited aid partners, although they will not take part in the leaders’ meeting. Beijing has objected to Taiwan’s invitation.
Taiwan-China tensions surface in Palau
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung joined Palau President Surangel Whipps on Sunday to open a fleet of electric buses donated by Taipei.
China responded to Lin’s arrival by declaring Palau, which relies heavily on tourism, an “unsafe” destination for travellers, Whipps later told reporters.
Chinese tourists make up the largest group of visitors to Palau, according to data.
The US Embassy accused Beijing of trying to “weaponize tourism to coerce Palau”.
“The Pacific is our home, not a theatre for geopolitical competition,” Whipps said in an interview on Sunday.
He urged regional partners to ensure tensions between major powers do not distract from priorities such as renewable energy, drug crime, food security and climate change, which he said have a direct impact on people’s lives.
Island communities are also dealing with higher fuel and food costs linked to the West Asia war.
Pacific nations strengthen policing ties
Around 110 police officers from Pacific islands will provide security during the forum, marking the first large-scale demonstration of region-wide cooperation on policing.
Australia, the forum’s largest member and biggest aid donor, has pushed for Pacific nations to strengthen their own security capabilities. Canberra has argued that China does not need to deploy police in Kiribati and the Solomon Islands.
Whipps said Pacific leaders would build on existing policing cooperation to confront drug crime.
Fiji, an important transport hub for the Pacific, is experiencing the world’s fastest HIV outbreak, which health authorities have linked to risky methamphetamine injecting.
Police seizures of cocaine and methamphetamine in Fiji, the discovery of abandoned “narco subs” in the Solomon Islands and drug packages washing ashore on remote islands have heightened concerns that criminal groups could establish a trafficking route across the Pacific.
Leaders will discuss a regional maritime response to the increase in drug crime. Australian officials told AFP that Australia and Fiji are expected to make major contributions if the proposal is approved.
Whipps cited the example of a Chinese drug gang that had operated in Palau before moving to Fiji.
“Clearly the same people are roaming around the whole Pacific and is evidence of why we need to collaborate and share information. They are destroying our youth and destabilising our nations,” he said.
China tensions remain a concern
Graeme Smith, a Pacific expert at Australian National University, said climate change remained the region’s leading priority, while transnational crime was becoming a growing concern amid the HIV outbreak in Fiji.
“Climate change is at the top of the Pacific priority list, but the challenge of transnational crime is growing with the outbreak of HIV in Fiji,” he said.
Fourteen island leaders are expected to attend the meeting. Kiribati, which supports Beijing, said its leader could not attend, while Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale left unexpectedly on Sunday to return home amid a political crisis involving a no-confidence motion against his leadership.
Solomon Islands had been China’s closest Pacific partner until Wale’s recent election. He has pledged to review a secret security pact and rebuild relations with the US and Australia.
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and US Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday are due to arrive in Palau on Monday to strengthen ties with Pacific countries before travelling to Solomon Islands and Kiribati.
Missile test adds to regional tensions
Henry Puna of the East-West Center, who previously served as the forum’s secretary general, said climate change should remain the most important issue for Pacific leaders.
However, the impact of China’s ballistic missile test into the region last month continues to be felt.
The forum has so far been unable to issue a joint statement condemning the test after Kiribati and Nauru withheld their support. Whipps said leaders would continue discussing the issue in Palau.
