At least five leaders are skipping this year’s Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau as the annual gathering opens amid tensions over China and Taiwan and concerns over climate change, drug crime, and regional security.
The 18-member forum is being hosted by Palau, one of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, adding to tensions with Beijing.
China has protested Taiwan’s inclusion among aid partners invited to attend alongside China, Singapore, Japan, Britain and the U.S. Beijing, which claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory, has also declared Palau an “unsafe” destination for tourists.
The summit is also expected to address China’s July test-firing of a ballistic missile that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
Leaders of the Pacific Islands attend the Ocean Partnership Roundtable in Koror, Palau, on August 30, 2026, ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. (AFP Photo)
Several leaders send lower-level delegations
The Pacific Islands Forum, which will culminate in a leaders’ retreat Thursday, has long been presented as a symbol of regional unity.
This year, however, a growing number of leaders are staying away and sending lower-ranking officials.
Samoa said 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 miss the summit, according to a forum official.
Kiribati’s president has already said he will not attend.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale unexpectedly left Palau on Sunday to address a political crisis at home after a no-confidence motion was filed against his leadership.
The Solomon Islands had been China’s closest partner in the Pacific until Wale was recently elected on a pledge to review a secret security pact with Beijing and repair ties with the U.S. and Australia.
Fiji said its delegation would be led by the foreign minister, although it remained unclear whether the prime minister might join later.
More to Read
Palau urges focus on Pacific priorities
“The Pacific is our home, not a theater for geopolitical competition,” Palau President Surangel Whipps said Sunday.
He said tensions among the region’s external partners should not distract from Pacific priorities such as renewable energy, drug crime, food security, and climate change.
Oliver Nobetau, director of the Pacific Islands program at the Lowy Institute, said the leaders’ absence could weaken any joint statement on China’s missile test.
“Not having these leaders there really lowers the expectation of whether or not we will see a strong statement come out of the Pacific Islands Forum,” he said.
Nobetau said some leaders were staying home because of domestic political priorities, while others may see direct talks with outside powers as more useful on issues such as security and economic support.
Leaders of the Pacific Islands attend the Ocean Partnership Roundtable in Koror, Palau, on August 30, 2026, ahead of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting. (AFP Photo)
Pacific-wide policing cooperation on display
Around 110 police officers from across Pacific island nations will provide security at the summit, marking the first large-scale demonstration of regional cooperation on policing.
Australia, the forum’s largest member and aid donor, has pushed for Pacific countries to provide their own security and has argued there is no need for China to deploy police in Kiribati or the Solomon Islands.
“Investing in the security and prosperity of our Pacific neighbors makes our region safer and our economy stronger,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“The big challenges facing the Pacific require solutions designed and delivered for the Pacific, by the Pacific. And Australia has a key role to play—as a partner and leader.”
August 31, 2026 11:00 AM GMT+03:00
