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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Daniel Hurst in Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Last-minute Taiwan drama and a policing plan: five things we learned at the Pacific Islands Forum

PIF United Nations Pacific Islands Forum United States China Police Tonga Australia New Caledonia
Tuvalu prime minister Feleti Teo dances the ‘Alofa’ after signing documents for the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union to come into force at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Tonga
The prime minister of Tuvalu, Feleti Teo, dances the ‘Alofa’ after signing documents for the Australia-Tuvalu Falepili Union to come into force at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Pacific leaders gathered in Tonga this week to discuss the most pressing issues in the region. The group backed a Pacific-wide police training and rapid-response plan championed by Australia, and also reached agreement with France to allow a fact-finding mission to travel to New Caledonia to investigate the recent unrest. But the final day of the talks on Friday was overshadowed by a dispute over language about Taiwan.

Here are the key takeaways from the Pacific Islands Forum (Pif) summit, the region’s most important annual political gathering, bringing together Australia, New Zealand and 16 Pacific island countries or territories.

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