China-Taiwan friction clouds Pacific summit
Australia said Tuesday the Pacific bloc will decide for itself who attends its annual summit, after China raised objections to Taiwan's presence on the sidelines.
China's objections to Taiwan's participation in the Pacific Islands Forum's annual summit have cast a shadow over the gathering, which is being hosted by Palau. The 18-member forum, traditionally a gathering of Pacific family, is now grappling with Beijing's warnings against Taiwan's attendance at side events. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Beijing's warnings and rejected claims that Palau is unsafe for tourists.
Five leaders, including Taiwan's representative, will not attend the summit this year, but Australian officials say it will not impact the outcomes. Palau, one of only three Pacific islands with diplomatic ties to Taiwan, urged unity among the Pacific nations. The summit aims to address issues of drug crime and climate change, as well as closer security ties among Pacific islands.
However, the recent departure of Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale adds a political twist to the proceedings.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
