Vanuatu joins other Pacific nations in condemning China’s long-range missile test, urging an end to such launches in the region.
SYDNEY: Vanuatu, one of China’s closest partners in the Pacific Islands, on Wednesday joined condemnation of Beijing’s test of a long-range missile that landed in the Pacific Ocean.
A Chinese submarine test-fired a “strategic” missile carrying a dummy warhead on Monday, with monitors saying the rocket appeared to land in a patch of ocean somewhere between Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.
“We call upon all countries, including China, to immediately cease ballistic missile testing in the Pacific,” a statement issued by Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat’s office said.
Vanuatu criticised the “lack of prior consultation and transparency surrounding this launch”, which it said raised questions about China’s commitment to peace, security and stability in the Pacific.
China was a “valued development partner”, however all partners operating in the region should “respect the collective decisions of Pacific Island countries”, it added.
Tiny Pacific island nation, Tuvalu, which has diplomatic ties with Taiwan, also expressed “grave and serious concern” over the Chinese missile test.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Feleti Teo said the launch was against the aspirations of Pacific countries for a nuclear-free zone, and called for “superpowers to refrain from using the Pacific Ocean as a testing ground for their military arsenals”.
‘Strong message’
Pacific Island leaders are considering a “very strong” joint statement condemning China’s missile test, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday.
The Pacific Islands Forum regional bloc was circulating a draft of the statement among its 18 members for endorsement, Albanese told reporters in Brisbane, ahead of meetings with the leaders of Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Samoa.
Many South Pacific countries, with aid-dependent economies and indebted to Chinese banks for infrastructure loans, have previously been reluctant to publicly criticise Beijing.
Solomon Islands, which is reviewing a security pact with China after a recent change of government, said Tuesday it had protested the missile launch.
“We are hoping as well that the nations of the Pacific join together to send a strong message,” Albanese said, after returning from a visit to the Solomons.
Albanese held security talks with Tonga Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt in Brisbane, before hosting the three leaders at a showpiece rugby league match.
“Tonga subscribes to the Pacific leaders proposal for an ocean of peace. This is very important for us, and we will be joining a joint statement that’s currently being discussed by the forum leaders,” Fakafanua said in opening remarks.
‘Strange coincidence’
“We want to be responsible for our security — Pacific leaders coming together to provide security for our own region,” Albanese told reporters.
China’s missile was fired on the same day Australia and Fiji signed a major defence alliance, the latest in a string of security treaties Canberra has struck with South Pacific countries including Vanuatu, as it seeks to block China establishing a permanent security presence in the region.
Fiji’s Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that he had warned China’s embassy against firing a missile.
“Missile testing doesn’t augur much for respect and trust,” he told the ABC.
He added it was a “strange coincidence” China’s missile tracking ship, Yuan Wang 5, was in port in Fiji when the missile was fired.
