China Warns Taiwan of 'Consequences' at Pacific Forum

China has warned of consequences for Taiwan after officials from Beijing and Taipei attended the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau, where major powers were urged to avoid turning the gathering into a geopolitical contest.

The forum, which opened Monday in Koror, brings together 18 member states and territories. Neither China, the United States, nor Taiwan are members, but their influence looms over the meeting. Palau, the host nation, is one of the few countries that formally recognises Taiwan, a status Beijing contests.

At the opening ceremony, Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. seated envoys from both China and Taiwan in the same row, though in separate blocks. China's Pacific Envoy Qian Bo later called the Taiwanese presence "very inappropriate" and said there would "always be consequences" for Taiwan. He denied the remarks were a threat but offered no specifics.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung rejected the criticism, accusing Beijing of trying to dominate regional gatherings. "If we go to a party, we always follow the directions of the host," he said. "However, whenever China goes to a party, it makes itself as if it's the host and China ruins the whole atmosphere."

Whipps, in his opening speech, urged external partners to respect the forum's autonomy. "Our partners are welcome to sail with us but they do not choose our destination," he said. "The Pacific agenda must be driven by us and for us."

The summit comes amid intensifying competition between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific, with both courting island nations through security deals and funding. Taiwan's participation has previously caused friction, leading to some partners being barred from last year's meeting.

Several Pacific leaders were absent this year, with some absences attributed to health or domestic politics, though analysts speculate Beijing may have pressured others to stay away. The forum has also struggled to present a united front, as seen when foreign ministers failed to agree on a statement criticising China's missile test in the South Pacific in July.