It was a week of diplomacy dominated by security, climate change and growing competition for influence in the Pacific. But as issues involving China and Taiwan repeatedly pushed their way onto the agenda of the forum - are the regional tensions a litmus test for the 18-member forum?
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TRANSCRIPT
The 55th Pacific Islands Forum ended much as it began, with ceremony.
"I thank first and foremost our gracious host, President Whipps, the government and people of Palau for the warm and exemplary hosting of the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders meeting."
But behind the formalities, it had been a complicated week.
One of the biggest ideas going into the meeting came from Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale.
He wanted leaders to begin shaping a comprehensive security treaty for the whole Pacific.
But he never made it to Palau.
Lowy Institute Pacific Fellow Oliver Nobetau says that left a big gap in the discussion.
"There was an expectation and a hope that this discussion through this leaders' meeting would give us what that comprehensive treaty is, how it would work alongside the Ocean of Peace alliance, how it would work amongst the current architecture of security arrangements throughout the Pacific. So without his presence, and we don't know what will happen for him politically, it dampens the momentum that was being built on the potential of a comprehensive security treaty as well."
Meanwhile, another security issue was already demanding attention.
In July, China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile across the Pacific.
Several countries said they received little warning, or none at all.
The test drew comparisons with U-S missile testing in the region, where advance warning is given.
Palau President Surangel Whipps Junior pointed to those arrangements.
"What about the rest of us in the Pacific don't we deserve the same and I had said, I said there's a lot of space between Japan and Guam I said why don't you send it there, why does it have to come to the middle of the Pacific when last year we just signed a declaration of Peace for the Pacific, you know we don't want our back yard, our home, to be threatened and disrespected."
By the end of the Forum, leaders had agreed on a compromise.
Their final statement registered concern about the missile test and called for at least 24 hours' warning before future tests.
It did not name China.
Nauru dissented.
And Palau had wanted a stronger response.
"A unified Pacific voice is critical in getting Beijing to respect sovereignty, to respect transparency and to be a responsible partner I think that's the message we should be sending to Beijing so I think it's important that we have a unified position."
China's missile test was not the only tension hanging over the Forum.
Taiwan's presence at the forum angered China.
Palau is one of the few Pacific countries that recognises Taiwan rather than Beijing.
On Tuesday, Beijing's Pacific envoy Qian Bo warned there would be consequences.
"There will always be consequences. I mean that, this is objected (to) by all. This should not have happened, we think this is very inappropriate."
China later denied the comments were a threat.
By Thursday, the language had hardened, drawing this response from China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun in Beijing.
(Mandarin to English VO) "Palau has repeatedly hyped up and attempted to hijack the positions of other members of the Pacific Islands Forum. Its intentions are malicious and the scheme will not succeed. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, firmly pursues a defensive national defense policy, and never engages in military expansion."
While that dispute dominated much of the week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted the Forum had not lost focus.
"I'm not distracted, I'm focused on members of the Pacific family... the Pacific Island Forum determines what happens here not any other country."
Leaders still reached agreement on other issues.
They changed how outside partners engage with the Forum, and backed closer regional security cooperation.
Climate action was also high on the agenda, against the backdrop of a newly released U-N report that warned the world is likely to exceed the 1.5 degree emissions target within years.
Pacific nations are among the world's most vulnerable to rising seas and extreme weather, and leaders again pushed for stronger action and more support to help island nations adapt.
Australia also announced a 15-million-dollar battery project for Palau.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says it will cut Palau's reliance on diesel.
"This is practical cooperation in action and it's not only reducing emissions but it's saving the people of Palau a lot of money which can be spent on other things... and those millions of litres of diesel are not going to be necessary because of this battery that's money that can be spent of the people of Palau."
Australia has been building closer ties across the region, including new security partnerships with Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
Lowy Institute Pacific Fellow Oliver Nobetau says Pacific countries are getting better at using that competition to their advantage.
"It's the same thing that we're seeing Australia doing with other countries as well throughout the Pacific we're seeing the enhanced partnerships of like Vanuatu, Fiji, Papua New Guinea as well so there's a similar story there and a similar thread however it's worked in the opposite direction - Pacific Island countries are still getting better at hedging, you know playing off the major and middle players off each other and this is a classic case of what we're seeing right now."
And after a week of serious diplomacy, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ended on a lighter note.
"It has been a secret but bringing the PIF here means that there will be a queue outside the foreign minister's door of DFAT officials seeking to be the next ambassador to Palau I'm sure."
