Author: TMC Palau

TAIWAN-CHINA ISSUE: Beijing has protested Taiwan’s inclusion in the 18-member state forum, which is being hosted by Palau, an ally of Taiwan At least five leaders would skip the Pacific Island region’s annual summit, officials said yesterday, hours before the opening of talks overshadowed by Taiwan-China tensions.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.…

Most mothers remember the first time they laid eyes on their new-born and the joy a baby can bring.But for some, motherhood can also be an incredibly isolating journey.Fijian maternal mental health advocate Mercedes Swann knows the feeling of loneliness as a new mum all too well.Her experience led to the creation of ‘Mama Talanoa’ in 2025, an online safe space for Pacific mothers who can openly share the highs and lows of parenthood without fear of judgement.Swann told Pacific Waves that she experienced poor mental health while pregnant and felt like she had nowhere to turn to.Fiji health advocate…

China’s special envoy to the Pacific has warned there will be “consequences” over Taiwan’s presence at this year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting after the democratically ruled island’s foreign minister appeared at its opening ceremony in Palau.Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung joined a mass of dignitaries in Palau’s commercial centre Koror for a ceremony to mark the formal beginning of the meeting, which has drawn hundreds of politicians, officials, non-government organisations and journalists to the picturesque Micronesian nation.Taiwan has vastly more room to manoeuvre at this year’s PIF leaders meeting because it maintains diplomatic ties with Palau.In a bid…

In briefChina has warned Taiwan’s strong presence at Pacific leaders’ talks in Palau could have ‘consequences’, but insists not a threat.The absence of several leaders raise doubts over united action on climate and regional security.China’s top Pacific Islands diplomat has warned “there will always be consequences” for Taiwan’s strong presence at the annual Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders’ meeting in Palau, kicking off the highly charged three-day talks officially starting on Tuesday.Qian Bo, Beijing’s special envoy for Pacific Island Countries Affairs, denied his comments were a threat, but said China has “serious concerns” with Taiwan’s status as development partners at…

New Zealand Foreign Minister Vaovasamanaia Winston Peters has questioned whether the Paris Agreement can deliver for the Pacific when some of the world’s biggest emitters are not fully on board.Speaking in Palau after the Polynesian Leaders Bilateral, Peters said Pacific countries had been deeply involved in pushing for the 1.5°C temperature goal.But he said they faced a much bigger problem when major emitters account for such a large share of global emissions.”Again, they were relatively heavily involved in setting the 1.5 or encouraging the 1.5 degree target. “The problem is that whilst they’ve got that and that’s a serious focus…

A group of Cook Islands women are pushing to break the silence around menopause, saying a lack of conversation is leaving women to navigate this phase of life alone.Menopause is when a person has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, marking the end of their reproductive years. It usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.The first menopause awareness event held in Rarotonga on 14 August, brought together local and international health experts to discuss what really happens during menopause and what support is available locally.The event was held under the banner of Te Marū o te…

A video appears on Facebook showing a person accused of sorcery being tortured. Sharing it may alert police and help secure the person’s rescue, as well as raising awareness about this terrible form of human rights abuse. But sharing can also circulate the victim’s face and location to new audiences, potentially exposing them to further harm and turning their suffering into a public spectacle. What should someone who sees such a post do? This dilemma captures the central finding of our new Development Policy Centre discussion paper. Facebook overwhelmingly dominates the digital landscape in PNG today, acting as a critical…

China has threatened Taiwan with consequences for sending a delegation to the Pacific Islands Forum as great power competition looms over the summit in Palau despite appeals by regional leaders for the freedom to decide their priorities and future without outside political interference.As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese walked the red carpet with fellow leaders at the summit’s opening ceremony in Koror on Monday evening, the celebration was as much notable for who was not taking a seat of honour in front of the stage hosting the archipelago’s traditional dance performances.Loading… Source link

September 1, 2026 — 5:00amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.AAAKoror City, Palau: Tension between China and Taiwan is threatening to overshadow a key meeting of Pacific leaders, as Beijing lodges complaints and threatens retaliation over the decision to allow the self-governing island to have such strong representation at this year’s event.The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) leaders meeting began in Palau on Monday night, with at least five leaders skipping the summit amid suspicion Beijing was trying to undermine the gathering.Sitting not far from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Taiwan’s Foreign…

As delegations and observers stream into Palau for this year’s Pacific Islands Forum, they receive a stamp in their passport offering them entry into the country – but only if they offer something in return. “Children of Palau, I take this pledge, as your guest, to preserve and protect your beautiful and unique island home,” the Palau Pledge states, part of a 2017 eco-initiative that the Micronesian nation followed up three years later with a ban on sunscreen containing reef-toxic chemicals. Given that desire to safeguard future generations, it is hardly a surprise that climate change – always at the…