Pacific island leaders yesterday issued a call for an “ocean of peace,” urging respect for their sovereignty at a summit clouded by China’s alleged meddling and great power competition in the strategically vital region, with Taiwan’s ally Palau saying there “absolutely” had been outside interference.
After a day of largely closed-door talks in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, the 18 Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders endorsed a Fiji-backed push for a statement proclaiming the region’s cohesion, and its desire for peace and climate action.
A heavy police presence guarded the leaders, who met in the Friendship Hall, near the 10,000-seat National Stadium built and financed by the Chinese government. Once pot-holed roads had been repaired ahead of the gathering.
Photo: AFP
“The ‘ocean of peace’ declaration is a reclamation of our sovereignty and our shared destiny,” Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele said.
“It is a solemn vow that our seas, air and lands will never again be drawn into the vortex of great power rivalry,” he said.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the declaration “will demonstrate that our region is free from militarization.”
“Emerging trends and patterns of diluting the global rule-based order is of utmost concern for small states like us,” he said.
Alongside member states — including key players Australia and New Zealand — gatherings of the Pacific Islands Forum are typically attended by dozens more countries as observers or dialogue partners.
However, the Solomon Islands has barred most of those partners from attending, sparking accusations that Honiara worked at Beijing’s behest to exclude long-time participant Taiwan.
The move prompted concern among fellow Pacific nations, of which three — the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu — are diplomatic allies of Taiwan.
On Tuesday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said that Taipei regretted its exclusion, but looked forward to next year, when Palau hosts the forum.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr said after the declaration that there had “absolutely” been outside meddling in the summit.
“We should engage and be inclusive and have all partners here,” he said.
“We shouldn’t say ‘this partner should be allowed and that partner shouldn’t be’ — everybody should be here, because in solving our challenges, we need everybody,” he said.
Taiwan and China have long vied for influence in the South Pacific, with Beijing spending hundreds of millions of dollars building sports stadiums, presidential palaces, hospitals and roads across the region.
China counts the Solomon Islands among its closest partners and backers in the South Pacific, and the two signed a secretive security pact in 2022.
Observers warned a split over China’s role in yesterday’s forum could undermine essential regional cooperation on everything from climate change to health, security and transnational crime.
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters last month said it was “obvious” that outside forces were meddling in the summit.
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