Pacific Island Leaders Issue Joint Statement of Concern Over China Missile Test

Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum agreed on a joint statement Thursday voicing concern over a Chinese missile test that landed in the South Pacific in July. The statement, revealed by Palau President Surangel Whipps, urges all countries to provide at least 24 hours of advance notice for missile tests and emphasizes respect for the sovereignty of Pacific nations. While one source reports the statement was agreed upon by the 18 member bloc, another specifies that 17 of 18 members agreed, with Naoero dissenting.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun defended the test as a routine arrangement of annual military training and stated that China is committed to peaceful development. He further accused Palau of maliciously hijacking the positions of other forum members. President Whipps responded that the message from the forum regarding the need for transparency is clear.

Additional tensions emerged over the presence of Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, who was invited to the summit by Palau. Beijing criticized the invitation and warned of consequences, while Lin accused China of using wolf warrior diplomacy and deploying plain clothes personnel to conduct espionage at the event. Lin also noted an interaction with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau.

Beyond the missile test and diplomatic friction, the summit addressed regional security and aid. Australia pledged 600 million Australian dollars to boost aerial surveillance against narco subs. Additionally, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau pledged 60 million dollars to improve fuel security in the region. Some nations, including Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Samoa, were absent from the gathering.