Pacific nations fail to agree on statement condemning China missile test
Pacific Island nations failed to reach a consensus on a joint statement condemning China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters criticized the lack of agreement, suggesting some nations are prioritizing ties with China over regional security concerns.
Why it matters
The disagreement highlights growing geopolitical friction and China's increasing influence within the Pacific region, challenging traditional diplomatic alliances.
Beijing gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile last month, with the rocket appearing to land in a patch of ocean somewhere between Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.
Foreign ministers and top diplomats of the Pacific Islands countries attend a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) in Suva, Fiji, on Aug 7, 2026, ahead of the full leaders meeting scheduled for September 2026 in Palau. (Photo: AFP/Ben Strang)
SUVA, Fiji: Pacific diplomats gathered in Fiji failed on Friday (Aug 7) to agree on a joint statement condemning China's recent test of a nuclear-capable missile in the region, with New Zealand's foreign minister accusing them of appeasing "outsiders".
Beijing gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile last month, flexing its military might in a region where it has long sought to expand its reach.
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