China has warned Taiwan of unspecified “consequences” after Taiwanese officials attended a ceremonial event at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Palau.

China’s Pacific envoy Qian Bo called Taiwan’s presence “very inappropriate” and said Beijing strongly opposed its participation.

Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attended the summit and held meetings with officials as Taipei works to maintain its diplomatic relationships in the Pacific.

Palau, which hosts the summit, is one of only a few Pacific nations that maintains formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, ABC News has reported.

The dispute has raised concerns that growing tensions between China and Taiwan could overshadow the forum’s discussions on issues such as climate change and economic development.