After Kiribati withdrew from the 18-member Pacific Island Forum and chose not to attend the summit in Suva, Fiji, the US stepped up its efforts in the region. The island nation of Kiribati celebrated its independence day on Tuesday, but due to a disagreement involving its leadership, President Taneti Maamau chose not to attend the region’s first in-person gathering in three years. During a normal news briefing on Monday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry refuted the notion that Beijing had any role in Maamau’s decision to leave the alliance. In response to the incident, the US offered Pacific Island leaders incentives…