“There’s no doubt that the PRC played some role in all of this,” a senior White House official said on condition of anonymity, referring to the acronym for China’s formal name.
China’s “assertiveness and influence, including in the region, has been a factor that requires us to maintain our strategic focus.”
The forum brings together states and territories spanning the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to sparsely populated micro-states and archipelagos.
But China’s influence will be felt through the absence of the Solomon Islands’ prime minister, who is now closely aligned with Beijing.
Manasseh Sogavare, who was in New York last week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, did not extend his stay in the United States.
Another White House official said, “We are disappointed that he decided not to come to this particular summit.”
Biden was scheduled to meet Pacific leaders in Papua New Guinea this May, following last year’s inaugural summit. But he cut the Asia trip short and returned to the States to address the debt-ceiling crisis.
For the Washington summit, Biden has lined up a full schedule, starting with American football at noon on Sunday.
The leaders traveled by train to Baltimore, where they were guests of honor at an NFL game between the port city’s Ravens and the Indianapolis Colts.
Monday’s agenda includes meetings and lunch with Biden. On Tuesday the leaders will meet top officials on climate and the economy and spend time with US lawmakers.