Pacific Nations Prepare Strong Joint Statement Against China's Missile Test

Kathmandu. Pacific nations are preparing to issue a strong joint statement in protest of China's recent strategic missile test in the Pacific Ocean. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed that the draft of the statement for regional consensus is under discussion among the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum.

Speaking to reporters in Brisbane before security talks with the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, and Samoa, Prime Minister Albanese said that it is necessary for the countries of the Pacific region to send a strong message in one voice. According to him, the prepared joint statement is of a very strong nature.

China conducted a strategic missile test with a dummy warhead in the Pacific Ocean on Monday. Countries including Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States have criticized it. According to observers, the missile appeared to have fallen in the sea area between the Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu.

Many Pacific nations, dependent on Chinese aid and infrastructure loans, are hesitant to publicly criticize Beijing. However, the Solomon Islands also expressed dissatisfaction with the missile test on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Albanese is holding discussions on regional security and cooperation with Tonga's Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape, and Samoa's Prime Minister La'oaliialimaeaetoa Luatua Schmidt. He emphasized that regional nations themselves must take responsibility for the security of the Pacific region.

Australia is expanding relations with countries in the Pacific region through rugby league and rugby union programs, as well as security cooperation, as a strategy to balance China's growing influence.

China's missile test occurred on the same day that a new defense partnership agreement was signed between Australia and Fiji. Canberra has been expanding security cooperation with various countries in the South Pacific in recent years.

Fiji's Defense Minister Pio Tikodudua stated that a prior warning was given to the Chinese embassy not to conduct the test. According to him, such a missile test has weakened regional trust and mutual respect. He also described the incident of China's missile surveillance ship Yuan Wang-5 being in Fiji's port at the time of the test as an unusual coincidence.