Author: TMC Palau

WELLINGTON – China on Sept 1 objected to Taiwan’s presence at the Pacific Islands Forum, saying the democratically ruled island was not qualified to attend the summit, but Australia and New Zealand said the Pacific bloc would decide the guest list.China views Taiwan as its own territory, and China-Taiwan tensions have featured prominently at the meeting, which was intended to demonstrate regional unity.Palau, which is hosting the 2026 meeting, is among just a handful of Pacific nations that have maintained diplomatic ties with Taiwan.At his speech during the forum’s opening ceremony on Aug 31, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr said:…

[Check against delivery] Delivered by the Incoming Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, President of Palau, H.E Surangel Whipps, JrPalau National Gym,  Koror, Palau31 August 2026  The Honorable Rick Houenipwela, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade and representative of the Outgoing Forum Chair, Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Heads of Government,Traditional leaders of Palau – Rubekul me a Mechesil Belau Members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau and Honorable MinistersSecretary General Baron Waqa, Heads of Delegation and representatives of our Associate Members,Heads of CROP agencies, representatives of the private sector, civil society, faith communities, and our Pacific youth,Members of the media, our people of Palau,…

The 2026 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting will be “less productive” than in previous years because one third of the regional grouping’s leaders are not present for the summit in Palau, where China-Taiwan tensions are front and center, experts told Radio Free Asia.Leaders from five of the 18 member nations — Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, and New Caledonia — sent deputy ministers or other senior officials in their stead. A sixth leader, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, had arrived in Palau, but returned to Honiara to address a no-confidence filing against his leadership.“The meeting is already less productive because…

The Pacific Islands Forum is facing a test of unity in Palau with five leaders absent and tensions between Taiwan and China playing out openly at the regional summit.Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lin Chia-lung, has used a rare media appearance at the Forum to defend Taipei’s place in the Pacific and warn island countries against giving in to pressure from Beijing.China has hit back, saying Taiwan has no place at a Forum it is not formally part of and warning there will be “consequences” over its presence.The standoff comes as Pacific leaders grapple with how to protect the region’s voice…

The Palau de la Música Catalana will host on September 29, 2026, the visit of Adelmo Zucchero Fornaciari, one of the most representative artists with the greatest international projection in Italian rock blues. As part of his new tour Under the Moonlight, the musician arrives in Barcelona to offer a concert commemorating the 25th anniversary of his hit Baila, one of the most popular and recognized songs in his repertoire.Beyond this celebration, the evening will serve to review a career spanning several decades marked by the fusion of blues, soul, and rock, as well as his collaborations with music legends…

Across the Canadian Arctic, hundreds of thousands of lakes have never been touched by a human being. They have no names, no visitors, and no record beyond satellite imagery. They are the extreme end of a spectrum that has no agreed measure: there is no official ranking of the world’s most isolated lakes, and no accepted definition of what makes one remote. Distance is part of it, but so is terrain, and so is climate. A lake ringed by mountains and glaciers or sealed under Antarctic ice can sit far beyond reach even when its coordinates are well known. And…

Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) will continue operating the Australian government-backed service between Brisbane International and Koror, dubbed the “Palau Paradise Express”, through to November 30, 2027, while doubling frequencies during the upcoming peak season. The Australian government announced the extension on September 2, 2026, with Qantas saying it had signed a new agreement with the federal government. Qantas International & Freight CEO Cam Wallace said that “the extra service is a direct response to growing demand for these incredible islands.” The extension adds 12 months to Qantas’ existing Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) contract, which runs from…

FIJI’S visiting delegation in Palau has met with members of the Fijian community in Koror to hear about their experiences, concerns and contributions to ties between the two countries. The meeting was held on the margins of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting and brought together about 50 Fijian community members and 15 children. During the talanoa session, community members shared their views directly with Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, and other senior government officials. Ditoka said Fiji’s relationship with Palau was strengthened not only through official engagement, but also through the presence and work…

Delivered by the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Plenary Session, President of Palau, H.E Surangel Whipps, JrNgarachamayong Cultural Center, Koror, Palau02 September 2026 Colleague Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum,Ladies and Gentlemen,Alii and welcome to our Plenary Session.Yesterday we had the opportunity to listen to our wider regional family –our CROP agencies, civil society and private sector, our Associate Members and Observers, and our international Partners.Those discussions provide important context for our deliberations today. The responsibility now rests with us as Leaders to provide political direction.We do so at a time when the environment around us is changing rapidly. One thing…

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced more financial assistance for New Caledonia to assist the financially-embattled French Pacific territory.The announcement follows a three-hour meeting with a bipartisan delegation led by New Caledonia’s President Milakulo Tukumuli this week.Lecornu said this was to serve as a lifebuoy to help New Caledonia overcome its most urgent challenges, including a near-collapse of the French territory’s pension scheme and medicare, which are both described as being on the verge of collapse.Its other aim was to help New Caledonia conclude its 2026 financial year (€11 million) and balance its 2027 budget (€50 million).A major part…