Overview

• Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers in Suva upheld Solomon Islands’ decision to exclude 21 donor and dialogue partners, including the United States, China and Taiwan.
• Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka said the exclusion asserts Pacific priorities and rejected claims of Chinese influence.
• A US State Department spokesperson expressed disappointment and called for all forum partners, including Taiwan, to participate in the September leaders’ meeting.
• China’s ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, denied Beijing orchestrated the ban and argued that Taiwan does not belong at the forum.
• Tuvalu’s prime minister warned his country may pull out of the September summit in response to the exclusion, highlighting deepening intra-regional tensions.