- Pacific leaders voiced collective “concern” after China’s ballistic missile landed in Pacific waters in July, but failed to issue a unanimous rebuke — Nauru dissented and Kiribati was absent from the retreat where the statement was discussed.
- The split underscores rising geopolitical jockeying in the Pacific, with countries being wooed by China and some (like Nauru) switching ties from Taiwan while others (like Palau) still recognize Taipei.
- New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon played down the disagreement, saying the forum reached a “very good place,” but the episode shows regional consensus is becoming harder to achieve.
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