Pacific nations fail to agree on statement condemning China missile test

Pacific diplomats gathered in Fiji for a meeting on August 7 but failed to reach a consensus on a joint statement condemning China's recent nuclear-capable missile test in the region. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters accused the group of appeasing "outsiders" rather than focusing on the interests of the Pacific Islands Forum.

China had given only a short notice before test-firing the intercontinental ballistic missile, sparking condemnation from multiple Pacific leaders. The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum now awaits a formal response to the test. Kiribati and Nauru, which are friendly with China, reportedly blocked the statement. Tuvalu, a diplomatic ally of Taiwan, requested help from various nations in locating the dummy warhead following the missile's landing near its territory.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed hope that China would take note of the Pacific Islands Forum's response. The meeting in Fiji precedes a full leaders' meeting in Palau in September, with Palau being one of the few nations maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Diplomats also discussed potential attendees for the Palau meeting, with Tuvalu previously banning all partner nations from attending a leaders' meeting in Honiara due to China demanding the exclusion of Taiwan.