China's missile test has sparked widespread disagreement among Pacific nations.
China's testing of an intercontinental ballistic missile has become the hottest topic on the agenda at the annual meeting of top Pacific diplomats in Fiji. New Zealand and several other countries in the region are pushing for a joint statement condemning the action.
According to AFP, last month China briefly notified several countries before conducting a test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile. According to monitoring agencies, the missile appears to have landed in a sea area between the Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu.
Despite strong criticism from many Pacific leaders, the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) has yet to issue an official response.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who actively called for a joint statement opposing the test, said before the talks that there would be an open dialogue. He stressed that the final outcome would show whether reason could prevail or whether the debate had been decided by rigid, unshakeable positions.
Tuvalu also expressed a desire for a joint statement and stated that the country received absolutely no prior notification of the test. Tuvalu's Foreign Ministry representative, Pasuna Tuaga, affirmed that the country does not want to be threatened or treated in that manner by any major power. He emphasized that issuing a strong collective statement from the Pacific would help enhance the overall standing of the region. Tuaga added that the missile landed very close to Tuvalu and that the country had requested assistance from several major powers, including the US and China, to search for the dummy warhead.
On the Australian side, Foreign Minister Penny Wong hoped China would take note of the very clear response the region had sent, with most forum members expressing deep concern. However, countries with close ties to Beijing, such as Kiribati, Nauru, and Vanuatu, were reluctant to publicly criticize an important partner.
Therefore, the conference in Fiji's capital, Suva, is more likely to issue a milder statement, emphasizing the need for regional security, without directly mentioning the test or China.
This meeting of foreign ministers is a preparatory step for the leaders' summit to be held in Palau in September. Palau is an archipelago of hundreds of islands located about 800 km west of the Philippines.
