The Pacific Islands Forum was recently subjected to a “malicious” cyber attack, as disclosed by the New Zealand government on Thursday, September 12. The breach, detected before a significant summit, highlights growing concerns over cybersecurity in the region.
Leaders from the 18-member bloc had gathered in Tonga in August for their annual meeting, which focused heavily on the intensifying Pacific rivalry between China and the United States. However, months prior to this, as preparations were underway, staff at the forum’s headquarters in Fiji identified a computer breach.
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s foreign minister commented, “New Zealand has been briefed on a cyber incident affecting the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat systems.” They added, “We remain concerned by the growing number of malicious cyber incidents in our region, targeting national entities and regional organisations.”
The identity of the perpetrators and the specific information targeted remain unclear. The seriousness of the breach prompted a rapid response team of Australian specialists to be dispatched to assist at the forum’s request. Australia’s foreign affairs department remarked, “Responding to cyber threats and building resilience is a priority for Australia, both at home and in our region.”
Forum secretary Baron Waqa, who has previously urged China and the United States to resolve their disputes outside the Pacific, is scheduled to address the incident on Friday, according to a spokeswoman.
The Pacific Islands Forum has gained increased global attention as China competes for regional influence against the United States and its allies. The forum’s membership includes nations with strong ties to Washington, others aligned with Beijing, and some maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Solomon Islands, a major Chinese partner in the South Pacific, has been advocating for Taiwan to lose its “development partner” status with the forum. The August meeting was notable for a joint declaration that seemed to affirm support for Taiwan’s limited participation. This led to Chinese diplomats exerting pressure on Pacific leaders to amend the document, which was subsequently reissued without the contentious paragraph referring to the forum’s “relations with Taiwan.”
In response to Australian media reports speculating that Beijing might be behind the hack, China’s foreign ministry dismissed these claims as “false information, fabricated for political purposes.” Spokeswoman Mao Ning stated, “Its aim is to sow discord between countries in the region and China.”
