Sharjah24 - AFP: US-China rivalry and an inter-island rift overshadowed the start of a landmark Pacific summit Tuesday, hampering efforts to focus world attention on the islands' dire climate crisis.
This year's Pacific Islands Forum is the region's most important meeting in years, coming after a Covid-enforced hiatus and as low-lying tropical isles run out of time for climate action.
Fiji president and forum chair Voreqe Bainimarama opened Tuesday’s first meeting with a warning that the "runaway climate change crisis" threatened the security and sovereignty of many Pacific nations.
But instead of a singular focus on the threat of rising sea levels and ever-more-powerful storms, a shock decision by Beijing-allied leaders in Kiribati to quit the forum altogether, revealed on the eve of the summit, loomed over proceedings.
Geopolitical jostling between the United States and China has been building since Solomon Islands controversial signed a security pact with Beijing in April.
United States Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she would make an unprecedented video appearance at the summit -- usually restricted to Pacific nations, Australia and New Zealand.
For an optimal experience, please
