WELLINGTON — Pacific Islands leaders are meeting in the Solomons this week for an influential summit clouded by differences over China’s mounting influence in the region that risks affecting regional cooperation.

Alongside its 18 member states including key players Australia and New Zealand, gatherings of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) are typically attended by dozens more countries as observers or dialogue partners.

This year’s host, close China ally the Solomon Islands, has barred most of those partners from attending — sparking accusations that Honiara was working on Beijing’s behest to exclude long-time participant Taiwan.

The move prompted condemnation from fellow Pacific Island nations, of which three — Marshall Islands, Palau, Tuvalu — still recognize Taipei.

New Zealand’s top diplomat Winston Peters told Agence France-Presse (AFP) last month it was “obvious” that outside forces were meddling in the summit.

“Outsiders are now telling us who we can have as guests. That’s not the Pacific way,” he said.

Touchy talks

China 'elephant in the room' at fraught Pacific Islands summit

Meetings will kick off on Wednesday in the Solomons capital of Honiara and will primarily take place behind closed doors.

On Thursday, they will head to the picturesque seaside settlement of Munda, over 300 kilometers from the capital for a “leaders retreat.”

There may be little they can agree on — beyond China, key issues causing friction include a review of the Forum’s regional architecture, which will decide who can participate.

China 'elephant in the room' at fraught Pacific Islands summit

So too is cooperation in transnational security, with member states reluctant to relinquish what they see as hard-fought sovereignty to help combat regional problems.

Climate change is also a major talking point on the back of Vanuatu’s win in the International Court of Justice which declared states are obliged to tackle climate change and reparations could be awarded if they did not.

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China counts the Solomon Islands among its closest partners in the South Pacific.

The two signed a secretive security pact in 2022 and China donated police vehicles and equipment to the Solomons ahead of PIF.

Beijing’s top diplomat in the Solomons, Cai Weiming, has even said the China Police Liaison Team — deployed as part of that pact — could assist in security for the summit.

Beijing has also signaled that it will be present at the summit in some form or another.

New Zealand officials have told AFP they feared the forum will “fall apart” if that happens.

Peters, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and other officials have warned the banning of dialogue partners could have an impact on aid being provided to the Pacific.