The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands have opted not to attend this year's annual Pacific Islands Forum, raising concerns about regional unity as China and the United States vie for influence in the strategic South Pacific.

Instead, these Melanesian nations, which have been sought after by both China and the U.S. for security and economic partnerships, will be represented by ministers at the 18-member bloc meeting commencing in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso will represent Papua New Guinea, while Prime Minister James Marape's absence remains unexplained.

Similarly, Vanuatu's Prime Minister Charlot Salwai has designated Climate Change Minister Ralph Regenvanu to attend the forum. The absence of the top leadership from these nations signifies a notable shift in their approach to regional engagement, potentially impacting the dynamics of the Pacific Islands Forum in light of the intensifying competition between major global players in the region.

During the four-day meeting, Vanuatu's primary focus will be on "strengthening regionalism." However, this objective may face challenges, particularly with key nations not sending their leaders. According to Ralph Regenvanu, the reason for Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's absence remains unspecified.

Notably, Vanuatu, whose largest external creditor is China, has recently experienced political instability, with Salwai becoming the third prime minister since August.

In the case of the Solomon Islands, the government announced that Foreign Minister Jeremiah Manele will lead their delegation to the forum. Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare is preoccupied with his responsibilities as the Minister for the Pacific Games and parliament, as the Solomon Islands is set to host the games this month.

The Pacific Islands Forum brings together nations from three sub-regions: Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, along with the participation of Australia and New Zealand. The most pressing concern in the region is the escalating threat of rising sea levels and increasingly severe storms, primarily attributed to the impacts of climate change.

To counter China's influence, the United States recently pledged to develop additional undersea telecommunications cables and wharves in the Pacific region, marking a strategic move following China's substantial infrastructure investments over the past decade.

China established a security pact with the Solomon Islands last year, and it attempted to secure a trade and security agreement with 10 member nations of the Pacific Islands Forum. These actions raised concerns, particularly from Australia, which serves as the largest aid donor in the region. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, plans to attend the Cook Islands meeting later in the week.

During last year's meeting, a resolution was reached to pursue a unified approach as the United States and China compete for influence, emphasizing the importance of mutual consultation before entering security agreements.

Papua New Guinea, in May, established a defense agreement with the United States while simultaneously working to strengthen its economic connections with China. Prime Minister Marape attended the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing last month, where he met with President Xi.

New Zealand, which is yet to form a government following an election, will be represented by a member of the incoming National government and a deputy prime minister from the caretaker Labour government.

Image source: South China Morning Post