China accused as Pacific nations block statement condemning missile test

Pacific nations have blocked a statement at the Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Fiji that would have criticised China for its recent ballistic missile test, according to multiple sources from the meeting in Suva. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters suggested that China is attempting to influence the gathering, while Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong urged Pacific ministers to demonstrate leadership on the issue.

Both Australia and New Zealand pledged to push for the Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers to make their opposition to the test clear, after they failed to reach a consensus during a previous meeting last month. However, sources from several PIF nations told the ABC that Kiribati and Nauru (formerly known as Naoero) continued to block the consensus, despite broad support for the statement.

Peters expressed frustration, stating that the two countries were using the need for consensus as a means of veto. He alleged that they were responding to outside partners' wishes, though he did not name China. The official from one PIF nation called Kiribati's position "absurd" and accused the country of lecturing ministers about consensus while ignoring the sentiment in the room.