Author: TMC Palau

Palau’s president yesterday called for a “unified” Pacific response to a missile test by China in July, while Taiwan and its Pacific allies a day earlier at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) reaffirmed their commitment to peace, stability and prosperity.China gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile in July, sparking condemnation from several Pacific leaders.The 18-member PIF being held in Palau was expected to release a communique after press time last night, with a formal response to the test possibly included. Photo: AFP Palau, which invited Taiwan to attend sideline events as an…

By Huang Ching-hsuan and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer The Taiwan International Youth Ambassadors Association on Wednesday voiced security concerns after unidentified people, who they said spoke with a Chinese accent, were seen photographing and recording guests at a Taiwan Night event in Palau on Tuesday.Taiwan and Palau jointly hosted the event for participants in the Pacific Prosperity Exhibit, including members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ International Youth Ambassadors program.The association said in a Facebook post that the unidentified people repeatedly photographed and recorded guests during the event. Photo from the Taiwan International Youth Ambassadors Association…

Melanesian countries are pushing Indonesia to facilitate a long-requested visit to West Papua by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights or have its membership in their regional bloc reviewed.A request for the visit was made by Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) countries back in 2019, but it has still not gone ahead, despite ongoing human rights violations in Indonesian-ruled Papua region, known internationally as West Papua.Frustration has built up among the Melanesian countries in the intervening years that Jakarta has not yet allowed the visit to take place.Now the members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) say that if…

KOROR, Palau (AP) — When stormy seas batter Melekeok state on Palau’s biggest island, the Pacific Ocean floods right into people’s homes. “We keep telling the legislature we need to move inward,” said Bol Sebalt, 43, who was born and raised on the low-lying beachfront. “But because of a shortage of funding we cannot.” The fate of Melekeok, a chiefdom of 300 people, is echoed by stories from many island nations in remote parts of the vast Pacific Ocean. Their leaders, gathered for a summit in Palau this week, are wrestling once more with the question of how tiny countries…

KOROR, Palau (AP) — When stormy seas batter Melekeok state on Palau’s biggest island, the Pacific Ocean floods right into people’s homes.“We keep telling the legislature we need to move inward,” said Bol Sebalt, 43, who was born and raised on the low-lying beachfront. “But because of a shortage of funding we cannot.”The fate of Melekeok, a chiefdom of 300 people, is echoed by stories from many island nations in remote parts of the vast Pacific Ocean. Their leaders, gathered for a summit in Palau this week, are wrestling once more with the question of how tiny countries with little…

The United States and New Zealand-funded upgrade of Penrhyn port, a former American military base, in the northern Cook Islands has raised concerns about transparency and environmental impacts.Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown described the port as a “lifeline” for Penrhyn, saying the US$60 million upgrade was one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country’s history.The US and New Zealand made the announcement in Palau this week, promising safer access to the remote atoll and better connections for the rest of the country.US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the new port project builds on that shared history,…

Fiji’s new $200 litter fine is now in force, but a bigger question is being raised alongside it: who holds councils accountable when rubbish collection and disposal fail?The five-fold increase from $40 took effect on 1 September under the Litter (Amendment) Act 2026 as the government steps up enforcement against people who deliberately dump rubbish.Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change, Lynda Tabuya, says the tougher penalty is aimed at changing behavior, not raising money.“If you litter, you pay,” Tabuya said in a statement. “Not because the Government wants your $200. We would rather collect zero dollars in litter fines,…

Issued by: on Navy Diver 1st Class Gabe Gaona, right, and Navy Diver 2nd Class Mark Obymachow, both assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 9, place chain Yokohama fenders on abandoned derelict vessel Palau Justice during a Pacific Partnership 2026 salvage operation to remove abandoned derelict vessel “Justice 1” from Koror, Palau, Aug. 29, 2026. Now in its 22nd iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster management preparedness mission conducted in the region. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations…

Beijing has accused Palau of “hype” over its Pacific missile test, after the host of the regional Pacific Islands Forum on Thursday urged the group to condemn China’s launch, on the final day of a ‌summit dominated by a dispute between Beijing and Taiwan. Surangel Whipps Jr., who is also the president of Palau, said he was hopeful the issue would be mentioned in a joint statement by the 18-nation bloc when the summit ends later on Thursday.”That’s definitely something that we’ll be discussing today, and a unified Pacific voice is critical ‌in getting Beijing to respect sovereignty, to respect…

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has come out swinging against a motion of no confidence against him and the MPs backing the leadership challenge.Wale, 57, has moved swiftly to replace two out of the three Cabinet ministers who resigned at the start of the week to support the bid to oust him. He called the departing ministers “political opportunists” seeking to destabilise the country.In the process, Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, who had publicly distanced himself from the no-confidence motion, has been sacked.The no-confidence motion was filed in parliament last weekend, with Wale finding out within hours of landing…