Taiwan scored a rare diplomatic win by getting its foreign minister into a Pacific summit it is not a member of, a small setback for Beijing's push to isolate Taipei.

• Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended the opening of the Pacific Islands Forum leaders' meeting in Palau and thanked the host for making it possible.
• Taiwan is not a member of the forum, only a "development partner" since 1993, and almost never joins the official meetings.
• China objected immediately, with its Pacific envoy saying Beijing had raised serious concerns with Palau and the forum's staff.
• Last year Taiwan was shut out entirely when the Solomon Islands hosted, after that country switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
• Only three of the forum's 18 members still recognize Taiwan: Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.

Outlook: Expect Beijing to press harder on Pacific hosts to keep Taiwan out of future summits, with the fight over the region's loyalties continuing all week in Koror.