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RNZ News
4 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Solomon Islands PM calls for pause on Forum dialogue partner meeting
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele, right, at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. August 2024 Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis The Solomon Islands Prime Minister has made his case as to why at least twenty countries should be essentially blocked from a key Pacific meeting in Honiara next month. Speaking for the first time to media since news broke of his plans, Jeremiah Manele proposed that Pacific Islands Forum leaders defer the annual dialogue partner meeting till next years' summit in Palau. China and the USA, along with 19 other countries, are Forum dialogue partners. The plan is something Palau's President - a vocal supporter of Taiwan Surangel Whipps Jr backs . Manele insists partners are not being excluded rather his proposal is purely operational with a review into the Pacific's regional architecture not yet finalised. The review is the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' response to the increasing interest from a growing number of Forum dialogue partners wanting a seat - and a say - at the regional decision-making table. "What we are saying here is, let's give some more time for the region to put the process a new process in place so that we can effectively engage with our partners going forward, not now, but the later stage, once we are ready," Manele told local media in a press conference Friday local time. "It's a decision that we take based on the region's interest." Manele went on to explain how he went through appropriate channels -- first meeting with the Troika (the past, present and future hosts of the PIF leaders meeting) who've endorsed his proposal. He said now it's up to the rest of the leaders to have their say: "We understand this decision requires sacrifice, including foregoing special guest invitations during this forum, but it is necessary to ensure engagement is conducted through a robust, transparent and strategic mechanism that reflects our priorities, protects our sovereignty and strengthens our collective voice globally," Manele said. Observers will still attend, including bodies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the UN agencies. China has strengthened ties in the Solomon Islands and other countries in the Pacific. Photo: Xinhua / Liu Bin/EPA Manele dismissed claims that China/Taiwan tensions are to blame. "We acknowledge public concerns and media narratives regarding Forum matters, but let me be very clear, Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation," Manele said. Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine joined leaders from Tuvalu and Palau in strongly worded comments putting the region on notice that the future unity and stability of the Forum hangs in the balance of decisions that are made for next month's Forum leaders' meeting in the Solomon Islands - just three years since the organization pulled back from the brink of splintering. Last year, RNZ Pacific captured China's representative to the PIF meeting in Tonga asking Cook Islands prime minister Mark Brown to change the final communiqué which recognised Taiwan and China separately. Earlier this year, Solomon Islands' prime minister Jeremiah Manele warned government workers against engaging with "Taiwan." In a statement, Jeremiah Manele reaffirmed his government's commitment to the One-China Policy, raising eyebrows in Palau . However Manele insists this is not about geopolitics, rather a proposal based on the region's interest: "Decisions related to the Pacific Islands Forum are made collectively by Forum members through established processes grounded in the Pacific way, emphasizing respect dialog and consensus."
RNZ News
06-08-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Palau backs Solomon Islands' move to exclude Pacific Islands Forum partner talks until 2026
Palau backs Solomon Islands' decision to defer the Pacific Islands Forum dialogue partners meeting to 2026, when Palau will be hosting the annual gathering. Photo: RNZ Pacific Palau "respects" the Solomon Islands' decision to exclude Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) dialogue partners when it hosts the annual leaders' meeting in Honiara next month. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele has sent letters to PIF member states suggesting a move to restrict partners , including China, the United States and Taiwan, from the gathering next month. This will not be the first time a host of the Leaders Meeting has wanted external partners excluded . "Palau acknowledges and respects the decision by host, Solomon Islands, to defer the partners' dialogues to 2026," the Palau President's Office said in a statement to RNZ Pacific. "This decision does allow us to focus on the critical intra-regional issues at this year's forum, including the High-Level Political Talanoa, the Ocean of Peace Declaration, and the Pacific Resilience Facility. These were "matters of paramount importance" to the security, wellbeing, and future of the Pacific, the office said. "As the incoming host of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum in 2026, Palau supports this proposal to defer the partners' dialogues. "We believe it will give the Forum and its members the necessary time to fully complete the ongoing review of the new Partnership and Engagement Mechanism, ensuring that our engagement with all partners is strategic, unified, and aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent." The statement follows President Surangel Whipps Jr doubling down on his position regarding Taiwan's participation at the Honiara meeting. "This is not about Palau's relationship with China or Solomon's Island's relationship with Taiwan," Whipps told RNZ Pacific in May. "It is about the PIF, and the PIF recognises both [China and Taiwan]. Within the PIF, we, of course, have our differences. But we come together as one Pacific." He said there has been some difficulty for Taiwan gaining access to the meeting this year, adding that if the Solomon Islands could not "fulfil the obligations" of hosting the Forum, then it should not host it. "If any participant cannot get to the Solomon Islands, that should be there, and they are denied for any reason then that country - Solomon Islands or Palau - should be denied hosting PIF." Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr Photo: Supplied/ Office of the President However, in its statement on Tuesday, the Palau President's Office said: "Palau remains committed to the spirit of regional unity and looks forward to robust and constructive discussions in Honiara this September. "We are prepared to welcome our partners to Palau in 2026 for a productive and meaningful dialogue, once the new mechanism is fully in place." This week, Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine joined leaders from Tuvalu and Palau - the three Pacific nations with diplomatic ties to Taiwan - in putting the premier regional organisation on notice. They say the future unity and stability of the Forum hangs in the balance , whic has been a concern for some time . "We witnessed at the Forum in Tonga how China, a world superpower, interfered to change the language of the Forum Communique, the communiqué of our Pacific Leaders. "If the practice of interference in the affairs of the Forum becomes the norm, then I question our nation's membership in the organisation," Heine told the Marshall Islands parliament. The Cook Islands Foreign Secretary Tepaeru Herrmann says political instability is a significant factor challenging Pacific unity. Cook Islands was one of the last Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) members to have its say in the final leg of a highly anticipated regional architecture review, which has now concluded. The review is the leaders' response to increasing interest from a growing number of partners wanting a seat - and influence - at the regional decision-making table. The views of all PIF members have been gathered by a High-Level Persons Group travelling the region and are set to be tabled at next week's Forum Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Fiji. The group has already met with the Heine, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson, and Niue Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone Herrmann said it is the most important regional reform conversation in a generation. "This is where our regional framework, not just our regional organisations, but the way in which we organise ourselves so that we can continue to work on ensuring unity, even where we have differences on issues, becomes really important. "So this process and the political Talanoa is integral to continuing to support unity," Herrmann told RNZ Pacific. Herrmann believes that whatever happens with hosting arrangements, the focus must be on Pacific issues. "For the Cook Islands, what is important when the Forum gathers is that the priority considerations and discussions are very much on the issues at the forefront of leaders of the Pacific, about the Pacific," she said. She added that too often, the interest and reporting is on not so much the priorities as Pacific leaders articulate, but more about geopolitical issues. RNZ Pacific has approached the PIF Secretariat in Suva and the Solomon Islands government for comment. A Solomon Islands government spokesperson said: "We have received numerous media inquiries on this topic and kindly ask for your patience." "To ensure clarity and consistency, we will provide a comprehensive update through a press conference or official press statement, rather than responding individually to each query."
Malay Mail
10-07-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Asean foreign ministers to meet US, China and other dialogue partners today
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Asean foreign ministers will hold sessions with nine dialogue partners, including the United States and China, on Thursday, during the post-ministerial conferences held in conjunction with the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings. Apart from the world's two major powers, separate meetings will be held with Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, beginning at 9 am. Other events on Thursday include Trilateral Meeting between Malaysia, Switzerland and the Asean Secretariat scheduled for 12.45 pm, followed by 16th Mekong-Japan Cooperation Ministerial Meeting. The 26th Asean Plus Three Foreign Ministers' Meeting will also be held. In the evening, Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will host a gala dinner for his counterparts at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The 58th AMM and related meetings are taking place from July 8 to 11 under Malaysia's Asean Chairmanship 2025, themed 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', featuring 24 ministerial-level meetings involving Asean dialogue partners and sectoral dialogue partners. — Bernama
