3 Pacific Leaders to Give Key Regional Meeting a Miss

The Pacific Islands Forum was viewed as a key bulwark against the CCP’s influence in the region.

This picture taken shows flags from the Pacific Islands countries being displayed in Yaren on the last day of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) on Sept. 5, 2018. Mike Leyral/AFP via Getty Images

The heads of three Pacific countries–Papua New Guinea (PNG), Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands–have declined to attend this year’s Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting.

The decision comes as leaders of the countries continue building ties with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which has significantly expanded its footprint in the region in recent years.