Pacific leaders face tough test of regional voice in Palau summit

Pacific leaders are heading into next week’s Pacific Islands Forum summit with a call for unity but also signs that reaching a common position on some of the region’s biggest security issues will not be easy.

Outgoing Forum Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Matthew Wale, says Pacific countries must remain united and set their own priorities as geopolitical competition grows around them.

His warning comes after Forum foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint response to China’s recent missile test with the issue now expected to go before leaders when they meet in Koror from 30 August to 4 September.

In his outgoing statement as Forum chair, Wale says the Pacific is stronger when it acts together.

“It comes with responsibilities of course, on us, to be acting together, but it also comes with responsibilities of the rest of the world as they engage with us, and because we're a small island community of island nations, we are stronger together,” he said.

He says that unity is becoming even more important as Pacific countries face growing strategic pressure.

Solomons Islands Prime Minister and Pacific Islands Forum chair Matthew Wale, right, met with NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Auckland in June this year. Photo/Facebook/New Zealand High Commission - Honiara, Solomon Islands

“And so it's important we continue to aspire to maintain that unity and to continue to speak with us one voice as is possible on many of these challenging issues, especially nowadays in the geo-strategic contestation that we find ourselves in,” Wale said.

But the missile issue has already exposed differences within the Forum.

Foreign ministers meeting in Suva earlier this month could not agree on a joint statement specifically responding to China's missile test, with Nauru and Kiribati opposing the proposed wording.

Officials have since been asked to develop a leaders' statement for consideration in Palau.

The test involved a nuclear-capable missile carrying a dummy warhead, launched from a submarine and travelling about 7300 kilometres before landing in waters near Tuvalu's exclusive economic zone.

China has rejected criticism from Palau President and incoming Forum Chair, Surangel Whipps Jr, calling his claims about the test “completely groundless” and “malicious in intent”.

Wale says Pacific countries should not allow outside powers to set the terms of regional engagement.

“It is important that we engage with our partners outside of the region on our terms, on what is important to us, as opposed to on their terms and on their interests.”

That message was echoed by Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting chair and Solomon Islands Foreign Minister, Rick Houenipwela.

China’s recent missile test into the Pacific has raised concerns among regional leaders and is expected to be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau. Photo/SkyNews/screengrab

“It is precisely in times such as these that regional ownership matters most,” Houenipwela told reporters after the summit.

Foreign ministers have endorsed a draft Regional Peace and Security Action Plan 2026–2030, aimed at improving the region's response to issues including transnational crime and climate-related security threats.

Houenipwela says the region must remain in control of its own agenda and “must continue to be conceived by the Pacific, shaped by the Pacific and owned by the Pacific".

The ministers have also agreed in principle to make the Pacific Police Ministers Meeting a formal decision-making mechanism within the Forum, with leaders to consider the proposal in Palau.

West Papua back on the table

Another issue expected to test the Forum's unity is West Papua.

The issue was absent from the recent foreign ministers' outcome statement, despite continuing concerns about human rights abuses and conflict in Indonesia-ruled Papua.

Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko says he expects the West Papua issue to be discussed when Pacific Islands Forum leaders meet in Palau. Photo/Instagram

Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko says he expects West Papua to be discussed by leaders in Palau.

“Indonesia is very open to the situation now,” Tkatchenko told RNZ Pacific. “I think it's just making a time and date and making it happen. I'm sure it can be brought up in the next meeting in Palau by the leaders, and if they need to work on that, so be it.”

Tkatchenko says PNG respects Indonesia's sovereignty but remains concerned about human rights.

For Wale, the challenge for the Forum is to look beyond the immediate disputes and prepare for what is coming next.

“And that requires the Pacific Islands Forum having radar capability, being able to see forward, and being able to map our way forward through challenging times.”

The 55th Forum Leaders Meeting will bring Pacific leaders together in Palau under the theme “B.E.L.A.U. - Building Economies: Life. Action. Unity.”