Anthony Albanese and Matthew Wale rebuke China’s ‘provocative’ missile test

Anthony Albanese has lashed China’s “provocative and destabilising” missile launch while his Solomon Islands counterpart also sharply criticised this week’s test firing as “not the act of a friend,” while the pair discussed deepening ties in Honiara.

On Tuesday Australia’s Prime Minister was formally welcomed by his newly elected Solomons counterpart Matthew Wale to join the tiny Pacific nation’s Independence Day celebrations.

China’s nuclear-capable missile fired from a submarine on Monday is believed to have flown over several Pacific nations before hitting waters close to the exclusive economic zones of Tuvalu and Nauru.

The military action has also drawn criticism and concern from the United States, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan, with a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson saying Beijing hoped countries “will not over-interpret the matter.”

Speaking in Solomon Islands following the signing of a defence treaty with Fiji, Mr Albanese confirmed Australia had launched a diplomatic protest with China over the “destabilising” act.

“There is no doubt that this is a provocative act by China, which does destabilise the region,” Mr Albanese declared standing alongside Mr Wale.

“We have made clear our concerns to China in both Beijing and Canberra, and I am making clear our concerns here as well in Honiara,” he added.

“We don’t want to see any action that is destabilising, or which undermines the peace, security and stability of the Pacific and the region.”

His Solomon Islands counterpart Matthew Wale, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said he had registered his “strong protest” over the incident.

“This is not something a friend does; this is not good in our region. That’s the bottom line. Be our friend, but don’t threaten us,” he told reporters.

Mr Wale, who took office in May and was a vocal critic of his country’s decision to sign a secretive security pact with China in 2022, said the missile firing underscored why a regional agreement in the Pacific was important.

“In many ways the missile test is further evidence for the need for a regional platform so that the region can speak as one,” he said.

“Not all the countries in the Pacific are not all on the same level of strength and may not want to speak up when things like this happen, but a regional platform will allow cover and allow for much greater sharing of intelligence and information.”

The leaders earlier held a brief bilateral meeting at the airport moments after Mr Albanese touched down.

The Prime Minister told Mr Wale there was ‘‘much more that we need to do together”, including the development of a comprehensive treaty.

‘’We will task our ministers to continue to do work on that and hopefully to conclude that by the end of the year,” he said.

Mr Wale said he was extremely pleased to see Mr Albanese so soon after his own visit to Canberra in early June.

‘’We have much to transact, so we look forward to great conversations,’‘ he said.

Australia’s Prime Minister said the Federal Government wanted to fast track negotiations on agreements with the Solomon Islands, but the process could not be rushed.

Mr Albanese became the first foreign leader to address the Solomon Islands’ independence day celebrations.

He entered the national stadium alongside Mr Wale and both were given floral garlands to wear.

The visit to the Solomon Islands follows a new alliance struck between Australia and Fiji, known as the Ocean of Peace, in Suva on Monday.

The alliance, which views an attack on one nation as an attack on the other, marks Fiji’s first mutual defence pact.

The Pacific Island nation has become Australia’s fourth formal ally, joining the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The treaty allows other Pacific nations to join the alliance.

The agreement was signed alongside the Vuvale Union, which includes $1 billion in investment over the coming decade into key areas including climate and economic initiatives.

During a joint press conference with Mr Albanese, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on Monday said he did not anticipate any “severe pushback” from China.

“I believe that they will welcome the understanding that it is within Australia and Fiji,” Mr Rabuka told reporters.

“It does not threaten Fiji’s relationship with China, nor Australia’s relationship with China.

“And as we have made it very clear in the past, your enemies are not necessarily my enemies.”

With AAP