Pacific Islands leaders opened a week-long summit on Monday in the Solomon Islands, where they are anticipated to back an “Ocean of Peace” declaration amid growing worries about escalating tensions between the United States and China.
The leaders are also expected to back Australia’s bid to host the COP31 United Nations climate summit, after Canberra pledged to work closely with its island neighbours to raise awareness of the challenges they face from rising sea levels and worsening storms.
Pressure from China to block Taiwan’s participation at the forum, being held in Honiara, led to the Solomon Islands cancelling the attendance of two dozen donor partners, including China, Taiwan and the United States.
Among 18 forum members, three have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, three have defence compacts with the United States, and several are French territories. Thirteen of the members have ties with China.
‘Regional Priorities’
Divavesi Waqa, secretary-general of the Pacific Islands Forum, said the agenda would focus on “regional priorities” such as climate change, ocean governance, security, and economic resilience. “These are not abstract policy issues,” Waqa told reporters on Sunday. “They are everyday realities for our communities.”
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, who welcomed leaders to Honiara, said the meeting’s theme — Lumi Tugeda: Act Now for an Integrated Blue Pacific Continent — underscored the urgency of solidarity and collective action. “If ever there was a moment demanding stronger Pacific regionalism and united efforts, it is now,” Manele declared in a statement.
Manele, who has worked to improve ties with Australia following Western unease over his predecessor’s alignment with Beijing, has also defended the controversial decision to exclude foreign observers from this year’s talks.
The largest forum member, Australia, is the region’s biggest aid donor and has stepped up efforts to block China from expanding its security presence in the region, after Beijing and the Solomon Islands struck a pact in 2022.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to arrive in Honiara on Wednesday, after visiting Vanuatu, where he is expected to sign a landmark A$500 million ($326.50 million) deal to strengthen economic and security ties.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said his country had advocated strongly for the donor partners to attend to discuss development opportunities, but added the forum was united nonetheless.
(With inputs from Reuters)
