China saw its latest attempt to spread its influence in the Pacific rejected by 10 countries - who told Beijing to focus on climate change rather than geopolitical point-scoring .
Pacific Islands Forum in crisis following regional split The Pacific Islands Forum the Pacific’s major regional leadership body is facing a crisis after nearly one-third of its 18 member countries quit last month. The Micronesian sub-grouping Palau, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Kiribati, and Nauru gave notice they will leave in protest over the selection of the new secretary-general on February 3.
At the reportedly “heated” 16-hour remote meeting, former Cook Islands prime minister, Henry Puna, defeated the Marshall Islands’ US ambassador Gerald Zackios by 9 votes to 8 in the final round. Other contestants included Tongan economist Amelia Kinahoi Siamomua, Fiji’s former foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, and Jimmie Rodgers of Solomon Islands.