China warns of ‘consequences’ over Taiwan presence at Pacific Islands Forum

China expressed serious concerns over Taiwan's presence at the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of "consequences" for the democratically ruled island's attendance at the event's opening ceremony on Monday. China views Taiwan as its own territory, and tensions between the two nations have been a recurring theme at the meeting, which aims to demonstrate regional unity.

Qian Bo, China's special envoy for Pacific island affairs, stated that "there will always be consequences" for Taiwan's participation, without specifying the nature of these repercussions. He emphasized that this action was objected to by all present and inappropriate. Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the forum's decision, stating that it was the Pacific Islands Forum, not any other country, that determined who could attend.

Similarly, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters echoed this sentiment, asserting that the group did not take instructions from outside entities. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed the island's honor to serve as a partner, emphasizing the desire to work together for a more prosperous and peaceful Pacific. Although Taiwan is not a formal dialogue partner, it received invitations to side events alongside the forum.

The US, EU, Britain, Canada, India, and Japan are among the forum's 21 dialogue partners. China has been reducing the number of Pacific Island countries with formal ties to Taipei, leaving only Palau, Tuvalu, and the Marshall Islands. Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Kiribati did not attend, with ministers attending in their place.

Australia, a major trading partner for China, remains cautious about Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific and has increased security and development ties with island nations to prevent a permanent Chinese military presence. Australia, New Zealand, and the US have long viewed the South Pacific as their sphere of influence, recently agreeing to jointly fund a major upgrade of a World War II port on a Cook Islands atoll.