The Latest Breaking News from the Pacific Islands Forum

Turmoil over China’s influence in the affairs of South Pacific island nations has flared as it emerged that a Pacific leader at the region’s most important diplomatic summit apparently pledged to erase an affirmation of Taiwan’s involvement in the meeting from its closing statement

The Taiwanese foreign ministry on Saturday accused China of an "arbitrary intervention" after a joint declaration by Pacific leaders was altered to remove mentions of Taiwan.

Pacific Island leaders endorsed a landmark regional policing plan Wednesday at a summit in Tonga, a contentious move seen as trying to limit China's security role in the region.

France's handling of unrest in New Caledonia has drawn criticism from Pacific leaders in Tonga this week.

Torrential rain and an earthquake greeted leaders welcomed to the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, underscoring climate change the region faces

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters says Western nations, including the United States and New Zealand, failed to understand swiftly enough the geopolitical importance of island nations in the South Pacific, leaving a power vacuum that allowed other countries to increase their diplomatic influence

Pacific island leaders gather for a key summit in the Kingdom of Tonga on Monday, aiming to navigate rapidly rising seas, damaging great power rivalries and violent unrest in New Caledonia.

The withdrawal of major banks from Pacific islands poses significant socio-economic risks to the region, prompting intervention by Australia, the US and New Zealand.

A string of visa issues and access roadblocks for diplomats and journalists have raised questions about Australia's influence in the Pacific nation of Kiribati.