Pacific Islands Forum

The Pacific Islands face significant challenges in ensuring the sustainability of their fisheries, the head of the region's premier political organisation says.

The former Nauru president also said the Pacific is at the forefront of the climate crisis, and "For this reason, our leaders welcome the opportunity to co-host a Pacific COP31 in Australia."

Opinion - While regionalism can have many meanings, to me, it is about getting Pacific countries to (better) work together, and at all levels, writes Sione Tekiteki.

Last week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit ended dramatically when China demanded the conference communique be changed] to eliminate a reference to Taiwan. Audio

Analysis - The question has been left lingering after the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum, with Aotearoa taking a back seat on a climate and disaster resilience fund and a new report pointing the finger.

Beijing's Special Envoy is furious about the mention of Taiwan in the final communique of the meeting - which appears to have been taken down by the Forum Secretariat without any explanation.

Nauru leader David Adeang is pleased that the Pacific Islands Forum is united despite there being differences of opinion on "some issues".

The United States has "listened carefully" to Pacific Island nations in its efforts to boost its diplomatic footprint in the region, the deputy secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, says.

The Solomon Islands foreign affairs permanent secretary says associate and full membership status of the largest regional body was originally set up for independent countries only.

The Prime Minister says the agreement commits Australia to help Tuvalu with climate adaptation, and he's also had conversation with Fiji PM to develop a similar bilateral agreement.

The 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting is off to a start with pouring rain and an earthquake as the backdrop, with the New Caledonia and the climate crisis as hot button issues.

Kiribati's head of delegation at Tonga leaders' summit says "our constitutional task" is to prioritise the elections process and diplomatic visits will resume once new government is formed.

But for locals, Tonga hosting the summit means it offers a much-needed cash injection to the nation, which is still recovering from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga Ha'apai eruption and tsunami. Audio

A Taiwanese deputy foreign minister will be at this week's Pacific Islands leaders in Tonga, as China and the United States jostle for influence in the region.

The Pacific Islands Forum leaders' summit is just days away from opening in Nuku'alofa in Tonga, and frantic efforts are still needed to ensure visitors are housed. Audio