Author: TMC Palau

SYDNEY – Beijing has accused Palau of “hype” over its Pacific missile test, after the host of the regional Pacific Islands Forum on Thursday (Sept 3) 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…

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo JiakunThe Palauan side has repeatedly hyped China’s missile test in an attempt to hijack the positions of other Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members, a move that has malicious intentions and will not succeed, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Thursday.Guo made the comments in response to remarks by the Palauan president, the current chair of the PIF, who reportedly claimed that he hoped to gain consensus from forum member nations to “condemn” China’s missile test in the region.China has repeatedly made clear its position on the missile test, and China is committed to the…

Australia and Palau say they will press Pacific leaders to issue a clear condemnation of China’s recent ballistic missile test when they meet later today, rejecting claims from Kiribati and Naoero that it is unfair to single out Beijing.The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting finishes today in Palau, with leaders holding their annual retreat at a residence owned by the family of the Pacific nation’s president Surangel Whipps Jr.A host of Pacific nations issued unusually strong criticisms of China after a submarine from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) in the South China Sea fired a missile with a dummy…

Recently sacked Solomon Islands Finance Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo says further resignations from Cabinet are imminent, as Prime Minister Matthew Wale gears up to fight a no-confidence motion.The motion of no confidence is expected to be tabled on Monday, 7 September.Lilo – who shares a political party with the motion’s champion, Manasseh Maelanga – was removed from Cabinet by Wale this afternoon.Speaking to RNZ Pacific on the day he was fired, Lilo denied any involvement in planning against Wale, but said he now felt obliged to support the motion.”I’m caught in between,” he said.”I cannot move (away) from a party…

Australia is putting AU$600 million (NZ$735.94 million) behind a new Pacific-led push to tackle organised crime and drug trafficking as Papua New Guinea calls for a legally binding regional security treaty.Pacific leaders have unanimously endorsed the Waqa Moana initiative at the Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, with Australia committing the funding over the next 10 years.The plan is aimed at getting intelligence and information into the hands of Pacific police and those responding to threats at sea.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the region needs a united and long-term response as criminal networks increasingly use Pacific waters to move drugs.“This…

KOROR – 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 global power…

Palau’s president called on Thursday for a “unified” Pacific response to July’s missile test by China on the final day of a summit clouded by alleged Beijing meddling. China gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile in July, flexing its military might in a region where it has long sought to expand its reach.It sparked condemnation from multiple Pacific leaders, but the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum being held in Palau, is yet to issue a formal response to the test.Palau, which invited its diplomatic ally Taiwan to attend sideline events as an aid partner,…

The Tokelau community is mourning a New Zealand career diplomat who served multiple times as the administrator to Tokelau, helped build its public service and fought to ensure their right to self-determination was exercised.Neil Walter was a widely respected diplomat in the Asia Pacific region who served as Official Secretary, Office of Tokelau Affairs from 1988 to 1990, and resumed as Tokelau administrator role between 2003 and 2006.Walter also served as New Zealand’s Ambassador to Indonesia and then Japan in the 1990s, following earlier stints in Thailand, New York and Sāmoa.He is frequently described by Tokelauans and people from the…

KOROR, Palau – Taiwan has defended its participation in the annual Pacific Islands Forum being held in Palau this week, telling member states not to let China “impose” its position on smaller island nations after a Chinese envoy made an issue of its presence. China’s special envoy for Pacific island affairs Qian Bo warned of “consequences” without elaborating after Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended the forum’s opening ceremony on Monday. “What he stands for, basically, is a threat,” Lin said of the Chinese diplomat in a press conference on Tuesday. He said Taiwan has attended the forum for over…

Source: Facebook/Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore advances Pacific cooperation through resilience, capacity building and climate-smart investment initiatives Singapore Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited the Republic of Palau from 31 August to 1 September 2026 to attend the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting. During the visit, he highlighted Singapore’s longstanding partnership with Pacific island states and announced the extension of two capacity-building initiatives supporting Pacific priorities. Source: Facebook/Vivian Balakrishnan Speaking at the PIF Leaders Dialogue with Dialogue Partners on 1 September, Dr Balakrishnan emphasised Singapore’s shared interests with Pacific countries as fellow small island states. He outlined Singapore’s…