No China missile test condemnation from Pacific leaders

The Pacific Islands Forum managed to express concern over China's unauthorized missile test during its annual summit in Palau, potentially offering a glimpse into how the organization might overcome its usual consensus-based decision-making hurdles. The leaders gathered to discuss various matters, including the future structure of the forum's external partnerships and the addition of a new annual police ministers gathering to the regional calendar.

The test, which flew over the Philippines, Palau, and Micronesia's airspace without warning, drew criticism from several nations, but the forum failed to condemn it at a previous meeting due to its preference for consensus. The communique released on Friday mentioned the region's desire to be free from coercion and militarization but avoided naming China.

Nauru and Kiribati abstained from the statement, and leader Surangel Whipps called the test provocative and threatening. The forum has also agreed to categorize external powers as either strategic or sector partners, with only the strategic ones allowed to attend leaders' meetings.