Can the Pacific Still Speak With One Voice After Palau?
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
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Ongoing story
- At least five of the 18 Pacific Islands Forum leaders have withdrawn from the annual meeting in Palau.
- The absences involve leaders from Kiribati, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and the Solomon Islands, prompting questions about the forum’s cohesion and China’s influence.
- Scheduling problems have also been cited as a possible explanation.
At least five Pacific leaders have pulled out of this week’s Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Palau, raising a sharp question: can the region still speak with one voice?
The leaders of Kiribati, Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and the Solomon Islands are among those absent from the gathering of the forum’s 18 members. Their withdrawals have complicated the diplomatic picture across the Pacific.
The departures have prompted questions about whether China’s influence is affecting regional unity. Scheduling issues have also been raised as a possible explanation.
The absences come as an expert warns that the Pacific Islands Forum is losing influence.
About this summary
Originally published by NZ Herald in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
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