GNV News, 9 September 2026

From August 31 to September 3, 2026, the 18 countries and territories (※1) that make up the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) met in Palau. At this year’s Pacific Islands Forum, under the theme “BELAU” (※2), meaning “Building Economies, Life, Action, Unity,” discussions were held on a wide range of challenges facing the region, including climate change, security, and economic development.

The Forum operates on a consensus basis so that even a small island state like Palau, with a population of about 17,600, cannot be overruled by a large country like Australia, with a population of about 27 million. However, some observers argue that there are doubts about whether the positions taken are truly independent and whether this system is functioning as intended. Kiribati, Samoa, and Vanuatu sent representatives rather than their prime ministers, while Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka was absent. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale returned home after arriving in Palau, following a no-confidence motion in his own country.

Behind this lies the fact that tensions among non-PIF member states such as China, Taiwan, and the United States are playing out in the Pacific. Kiribati, which sent a Foreign Ministry official and former ambassador to China without full authority to agree to the Forum’s final communique instead of dispatching its prime minister, has blocked consensus on a joint statement of condemnation issued by Pacific nations when China launched missiles on July 6, 2026. In addition, after Taiwan— which has official diplomatic relations with the host country Palau— was invited to this year’s PIF, Chinese envoy Qian Bo conveyed “serious concern” and stated that there would be “consequences.”

Amid these confrontations, the climate crisis facing Pacific countries— an issue that should be the focus of discussion— is also becoming increasingly evident. According to estimates by the Pacific Community (SPC), shifts in fish habitats could reduce coastal fisheries catches in Pacific countries by up to 65% by 2050. This would amount to a decline of 29 kg of fish per person per year, equivalent to two meals per week for each household. In Tuvalu, floods of a scale that currently occur once every 100 years are expected to occur once every 10 years by 2050.

The final outcome document included a declaration to accelerate climate action and announced additional financial support, representing a certain degree of progress. However, it avoided explicit criticism of Australia’s expansion of fossil fuel projects, leading some to say that it did not go far enough in its stance. A meeting that began under the banner of unity ended up revealing the vulnerability of the Pacific islands, shaken by great-power pressure and the looming climate crisis.

※1 Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

※2 Building Economies: Life, Action, Unity

Learn more about changes in PIF membership and withdrawals → “Have Pacific countries overcome the crisis?”

Learn more about past withdrawals of Pacific countries from PIF → “Crisis in Pacific countries?”