Pacific Ministers Fail to Condemn China Missile Test Ahead of 18-Nation Forum

3 articles · Updated · WSWS · Aug 11

Pacific foreign ministers meeting in Fiji on August 7 failed to reach consensus on a joint statement condemning China’s July 6 intercontinental ballistic missile test across the Pacific.
Winston Peters of New Zealand reacted angrily, saying two countries were using the forum’s consensus rule as a veto after Wellington and Canberra pushed hard for a collective rebuke.
ABC reported Kiribati and Naoero resisted the statement, though PIF Secretary General Baron Waqa told Reuters neither blocked it and said ministers had discussed the issue at length.
Tuvalu demanded a regional response over the missile’s landing area between the Solomon Islands, Naoero and Tuvalu, while China said the test was routine, lawful and not aimed at any country.
The dispute now shifts toward the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ summit in Palau from August 30, where members will keep discussing the issue amid wider rivalry over China’s influence.