Divisions on China missile test threaten to destabilise Pacific Islands Forum
The Pacific Islands Forum is facing internal instability following a disagreement over how to address a recent Chinese ballistic missile test. New Zealand's Foreign Minister criticized Kiribati and Nauru for blocking a unified regional statement, allegedly due to external influence.
Why it matters
The incident highlights growing geopolitical tensions in the Pacific as nations struggle to balance regional security interests with economic reliance on China.
<p>Deep divisions are threatening to destabilise the Pacific Islands Forum after foreign ministers walked away unable to come to any agreement on action against China’s ballistic missile test.</p> <p>Last month the missile <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/07/06/deeply-concerning-china-fires-nuclear-capable-test-missile-in-south-pacific/" target="_blank">landed close to Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone</a>, resulting in harsh criticism from most of the Pacific.</p> <p>But New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/06/analysis-plenty-at-stake-as-pacific-foreign-ministers-meet/" target="_blank">left Friday’s meeting in Suva</a> furious over the lack of a strong statement against China, saying “outsiders” had influenced two Pacific countries to try and drive their agenda.</p> <p>1News understands those two countries are Kiribati and Nauru, which have sided with China.</p> <p>Peters said those two countries were using the need for consensus “to respond to outside partners' wishes rather than those that belong to the Pacific Islands Forum”.</p> <p>“Well, they didn’t actually lay out any reasons apart from their disagreement and not wishing for us to make the clear statement…
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