Pacific Islands Forum opens in Palau amid US-China rivalry

August 31, 2026 at 07:08 PM1 min

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Leaders of Pacific island nations gathered in Palau for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, with the host population swelling from 18,000 to 20,000. Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. urged major powers not to interfere in talks focused on climate change and struggling economies. The summit unfolded amid intensifying competition for influence between China and the United States.

Key Facts

Palau's population swelled from 18,000 to 20,000 as delegates arrived for the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. told reporters on Sunday that the Pacific is "our home, not a theater for geopolitical competition."
The Pacific Islands Forum comprises 18 member countries and territories, many with populations in the low thousands or tens of thousands.
China, the United States, Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand are among the powers competing for influence in the Pacific region.

Summit Setting

The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting opened in Palau, a tropical archipelago with no traffic lights and a population of 18,000. Ahead of the summit's official opening on Monday, President Surangel Whipps Jr. and senior officials walked the main road picking up trash. Barbers and tattoo artists prepared to serve as drivers for delegates, while student volunteers readied to usher dignitaries. Decisions at the forum are made by consensus rather than by vote, reflecting the region's unhurried diplomatic style.

Geopolitical Contest

China and the United States have intensified a contest for influence among Pacific island leaders in recent years. Taiwan, Australia, and New Zealand are also vying for sway in the region, sometimes creating dividing lines among forum members. President Whipps urged larger countries not to interfere in talks he hoped would center on climate change and struggling economies. Many Pacific island nations hold sprawling exclusive economic zones rich in fisheries and seabed minerals, making them strategically important.