Taipei, Sept. 6 -- China's growing efforts to introduce geopolitical rivalry into Pacific affairs and impede regional consensus require closer international scrutiny, a foreign affairs official said, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, the remarks followed Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung's visit to Palau last week, where he led a Taiwanese delegation to events associated with the 55th Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit. The participation of only some Pacific leaders at the gathering had prompted speculation about divisions within the regional grouping. 13 PIF members were represented by their heads of state or government, while Fiji, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Samoa sent ministers. The Taiwanese official cautio...