Pacific Islands Forum under strain as Solomon Islands contemplates excluding donor partners and Taiwan
Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine has urged Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele to rethink plans to bar donor partners from meetings with Pacific leaders next month in Honiara, warning that sidelining development partners would undermine regional momentum and the Forum’s historic commitment to inclusivity.
In a letter dated August 8, Heine pressed Manele and the Forum Secretariat to pursue a more balanced approach that preserves regional cooperation and avoids pushing partners away at a critical moment. The exchange comes as Manele has justified a reform drive that would halt engagement with outside donors and dialogue partners, citing the need to re-evaluate how donor ties fit into the Forum’s priorities.
Manele has rejected claims that Beijing pressured the Solomon Islands to block Taiwan’s participation, arguing the move is a sovereign choice aimed at focusing the Forum on Pacific leaders themselves. Heine has been vocal against sidelining Taiwan, but her reply did not directly address Taiwan in favor of emphasizing the importance of partnerships with donors to support regional development and urgent priorities.
The Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu are among the few nations that still maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, and they have consistently lobbied for Taiwan’s inclusion in Pacific Islands Forum discussions. Heine’s stance reflects a broader regional anxiety about external influence—particularly China’s—on the Forum’s norms and processes. Tuvalu has already threatened to boycott the upcoming meeting if Taiwan’s participation is curtailed.
In a parliamentary opening speech on August 4, Heine argued that the Forum should be owned by its member states, not by non-members, and she warned against allowing non-members to dictate how the Forum conducts its business. She emphasized that the Forum remains the sole avenue for Pacific leaders to engage with development and dialogue partners to mobilize resources, align priorities, and promote a unified purpose.
As the Forum prepares for its September gathering in Honiara, attention is focused on the delicate balance between inclusivity and sovereignty. Donor partners that typically participate in Forum business range from the United States, China, and Japan to the European Union, India and Taiwan. Heine said ongoing discussions about reforming the donor dialogue system should not become a pretext to halt engagement with donors for the year.
The regional debate over Taiwan’s role is part of a longer arc—the Pacific’s “Pacific Way” of consensus, mutual respect, and regional solidarity. While Taiwan has been a long-standing development partner since 1993 and remains a key source of aid and engagement for several Pacific states, China has stepped up efforts to marginalize Taiwan’s international ties and to influence regional diplomacy. Last year, for example, Forum leaders agreed on a communique that was later revised to remove a reference to Taiwan under pressure from Beijing.
Alongside Heine’s remarks, regional leaders have stressed the importance of inclusive dialogue to address climate change, sustainable development, and regional resilience. Palau’s Surangel Whipps Jr. and Tuvalu’s prime minister, Feleti Teo, have both argued that Taiwan’s inclusion remains essential to maintaining a robust and legitimate Forum. Samoa has echoed similar concerns, warning that excluding Taiwan could jeopardize attendance and undermine decades of cooperative engagement.
What this means for the forum’s near-term agenda
– Taiwan’s participation in the PIF remains a central point of contention. The three Taiwan-allied Pacific nations argue that removing Taiwan undermines regional dialogue and democratic principles.
– Donor engagement is being debated as a core mechanism for funding climate resilience and development. The question is whether governance reforms should be implemented without interrupting existing channels of support.
– The Solomon Islands’ pivot toward China adds another layer of complexity, as leaders weigh sovereignty, regional integrity, and the Forum’s legitimacy.
– The United States has publicly urged Taiwan’s continued participation, reinforcing Washington’s commitment as a long-standing dialogue partner and supporter of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
– Tuvalu has signaled a potential boycott, highlighting the risk that a divided Forum could weaken collective action on climate finance, disaster resilience, and sustainable development.
A hopeful path forward
Many Pacific leaders emphasize that unity and constructive dialogue—upheld by the Forum’s tradition of consensus—offer the best framework to navigate external pressures. If Forum members can reaffirm the value of inclusive dialogue while addressing legitimate reform concerns, the Pacific Islands Forum could emerge stronger and more capable of mobilizing resources, coordinating response to climate risks, and advancing shared development goals.
In sum
The row over donor participation and Taiwan’s status at the Pacific Islands Forum underscores a pivotal moment for Pacific diplomacy. It tests the region’s ability to balance sovereign decisions with inclusive regional governance, maintain unity in the face of China’s growing influence, and ensure that climate and development remain at the forefront of Forum deliberations. As leaders prepare for the September summit in Honiara, the resilience of the Pacific Way—rooted in mutual respect, consensus, and regional solidarity—will be put to a decisive test.
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