Asia-Pacific

Multiple Leaders Absent From 55th Pacific Islands Forum in Palau

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By Joseph Wu/Tiffany Wong

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As the 55th Pacific Islands Forum begins in Palau, key regional leaders are missing. The president of Kiribati pulled out, instead sending his director of foreign service who previously served as ambassador to China. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Vale left just hours after arriving in Palau to face a no-confidence vote at home. Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and New Caledonia are also not sending their heads of state. Naoero only confirmed its president's presence on the opening day of the forum. The absence of leadership comes as the bloc failed to come to a consensus in August over a statement condemning a Chinese missile launched over the Pacific. Meanwhile, Taiwan returns to the forum after the Solomon Islands blocked non-member states, including China, the US and Japan, from attending last year. Taipei hopes to deepen its partnerships and development cooperation in the region.