Taiwan is positioning itself as a steady partner to Pacific island nations while blaming China for dragging great-power rivalry into the region — a win for Taipei's diplomatic image, a headache for Beijing.

• Talk of "cracks in Pacific unity" after the 55th Pacific Islands Forum is overblown; several members sent ministers instead of leaders at past summits too.
• Taiwan has taken part since 1993 as a "development partner," funding climate resilience, clean energy, health, digital tech and training.
• China test-fired an intercontinental missile into the Pacific in July, pushing island leaders to demand advance warning and transparency.
• Only Nauru objected to that demand, showing how countries close to Beijing can block a united Pacific position.
• Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung used a Palau visit to press the line that Taiwan asks no one to pick sides between Taipei and Beijing.

Outlook: Expect Taiwan to keep expanding aid and infrastructure projects with Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands as competition with China over the region intensifies.