China warns of 'consequences' over Taiwan's attendance in Pacific Forum

China said it had serious concerns about Taiwan's presence at the annual Pacific Islands Forum in Palau, warning of "consequences" after the democratically ruled island attended the group's opening ceremony on Monday.



China views Taiwan as its own territory, and China-Taiwan tensions have featured prominently at the meeting, which was intended to demonstrate regional unity.



"There will always be consequences," Qian Bo, China's special envoy for Pacific island affairs, said of Taiwan attending the event.



"It's not a threat," he said without specifying what the consequences would be.



The leaders of Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Kiribati did not attend the gathering of the 18-member group that counts Australia, New Zealand and Pacific island nations as members.



There was no immediate comment by Taipei.



Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung was invited for meetings and side events held alongside the forum.



Taiwan is not a formal dialogue partner of the forum like China, but a development partner. The U.S. and Japan are also dialogue partners.