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Flags of member states fly outside the summit venue for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau. | Photo Credit: AP

China warned of “consequences” for Taiwan after officials from Beijing and Taipei attended a ceremonial event at a Pacific leaders summit, where major powers already had been urged to restrain from turning a meeting of mostly small island countries into a geopolitical sideshow.

The 18 member states and territories of the Pacific Islands Forum, which opened its annual summit in Palau's largest city Koror on Monday (August 31, 2026), do not include China, the United States or Taiwan. However, battles for influence over the lucrative oceans and strategically important locations of the forum's members this week threatened, as they have before, to overshadow its summit.

Some theatre was expected at this year's event because the host country, a western Pacific island nation next to the Philippines that has close ties to the U.S., is among the 11 countries and the Vatican that recognise Taiwan, which Beijing says is a part of China.

Ahead of the summit, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. hosted joint events with Taiwan's representative, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, and at the opening ceremony placed the envoys from Beijing and Taipei in the same row, although they were in separate blocks of seats.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun claimed Taiwan is not a dialogue partner or development partner of the forum and therefore is in no position to participate in the event's activities.

Mr. Lin on Tuesday (September 1, 2026) rejected the suggestion that his participation was illegitimate, accusing Beijing of dividing the region and “blaming the problems” on others. “If we go to a party, we always follow the directions of the host,” he said in Koror. “However, whenever China goes to a party, it makes itself as if it's the host and China ruins the whole atmosphere of the party.”

China's criticism came at the end of an event where Palau's president urged the major powers present at the forum to leave the summit's workings to member states.

“Our partners are welcome to sail with us but they do not choose our destination,” Mr. Whipps said in a speech. “The Pacific agenda must be driven by us and for us.”

Powerful nations interested in the Pacific have raced in recent years to shore up alliances among its leaders, intensifying a contest for influence between China and the U.S., Taiwan and forum members Australia and New Zealand. That has led to an explosion in interest in the annual Pacific leaders meeting, which has grown from a casual affair to a summit with 2,000 attendees.

In a recent episode, the forum's foreign ministers failed to reach consensus on a statement criticising Beijing's launch of a ballistic missile into the South Pacific Ocean in July. While most member states strongly opposed China's actions, the refusal of two to endorse a proposed statement meant none was issued.

Some analysts say the absence of certain major politicians from the summit could be another example, although those present have downplayed suggestions that the representation of some states by senior officials instead of national leaders would undermine discussions.

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