China warns of 'consequences' over Taiwan's attendance at Pacific leaders meeting

KOROR, Palau - Australia declared on Tuesday that the Pacific bloc will determine for itself which participants attend its annual summit, following China's objections to Taiwan's presence on the sidelines. The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum is currently being hosted by Palau, which invited its diplomatic ally Taiwan to attend as an aid partner, alongside China and other non-Pacific nations.

China's Pacific envoy Qian Bo warned on Monday that there would be "consequences" if Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung attended the event in Palau. Beijing considers Taiwan a sovereign territory, and Chinese officials have warned Pacific leaders and ministers not to attend side events where Taiwan is participating. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to Chinese comments, stating that the Pacific Islands Forum sets its own agenda, not any other country.

Albanese also dismissed China's warning to tourists that Palau, which depends on tourism, is unsafe, saying, "This is a paradise here in Palau." Palau is one of only three Pacific islands with diplomatic ties to Taiwan and not to Beijing. Five forum members out of 18 will not attend this year's meeting, sending lower-ranked ministers instead.

Representatives from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands said that the absences would not impact the meeting's outcomes. The Pacific summit aims to take joint action on drug crime and climate change. Despite past issues with non-participation, Albanese assured that all members will participate in the current forum.

Among the topics being discussed is China's test launch of a ballistic missile in July, which landed in the Pacific Ocean near Taiwan's ally Tuvalu. Albanese called this action "not acceptable" and "not the act of a friend."