Growing chorus of Pacific leaders criticise China’s nuclear-capable missile launch as a ‘destabilising’ act

A growing chorus of Pacific leaders have criticised Beijing’s firing of a long-range ballistic missile into international waters after Anthony Albanese signed a new pact with Fiji this week, as a destabilising and “provocative act”.

Several more nations joined a wave of collective condemnation on Wednesday and offered some of the harshest rebukes against China in recent years as the PM welcomed several key Pacific leaders on home soil.

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, Tonga’s Lord Fakafanua and Samoa’s La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt all expressed their concerns over Pacific regional security while joining Mr Albanese in a bilateral meeting in Brisbane.

While China claimed the launch was a “routine” part of their annual military training program, almost a dozen nations have spoken publicly against the action — Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Japan, Tuvalu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the United States.

In a joint statement, Mr Albanese and Mr Marape on Wednesday “rejected actions that were destabilising and which undermined the peace, security and stability of the Pacific and the region”.

The missile had splashed down near Tuvalu, which is one of less than a dozen States to hold a formal diplomatic alliance with Taiwan.

Tuvalu PM Feleti Penitala Teo expressed his “grave and serious concern” with China.

“I share the same grave and serious concern and disappointment of other Pacific leaders for the recent launch of a Nuclear Capable Ballistic Missile into the Pacific Ocean by China,” he said.

“The Pacific region has long advocated for peace, security and freedom for nuclear threats. The launch comes at a time when Pacific Island countries are reaffirming their collective vision of the Pacific as a region of peace security, and co-operation.

“As a leader of one of the smaller island countries in the Pacific, I join the call of other Pacific Leaders on all countries with military capabilities to respect our collective determination for the Blue Pacific Continent to be defined by peace.”

Tonga’s Prime Minister Lord Fakafānua also confirmed that his country would add its voice to a joint statement.

During a speech with Mr Albanese in Brisbane, Lord Fakafānua spoke about the importance to strengthen ties with Australia amid “security concerns that are common across the Pacific”.

“Tonga subscribes to the Pacific leaders proposal for an ocean of peace. This is very important for us, and we will be joining a joint statement that’s currently being discussed by the forum leaders,” he said.

Mr Albanese said he wanted to “elevate that relationship to a higher level in the future” and insisted it was important to “stand together” on security in the Pacific.

It comes as Australia’s most recent ambassador to China Graham Fletcher on Wednesday penned an opinion piece in the Lowy Institute insisting that China was positioning itself as a hegemony in the region.

“Anthony Albanese spoke plainly when he recently said that China was keen on increasing its influence ‘at a minimum, and (achieving) hegemony in the longer term’. Not everyone shares this assessment, but I do,” he said.

“The regime in Beijing rejects the idea of ever acquiring hegemony, owing to its allegedly unique national characteristics.

“But its behaviour suggests otherwise. China plainly wants to win, in everything, and displace (if not actually replace) the United States from its global leadership role.

“Wherever possible, China aims to reach the top.”

Fiji’s Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua told the ABC the timing of the missile testing was a “strange coincidence” and called for peace in the region.

He added that it hadn’t done much “for respect and trust” in Fiji’s relationship with Beijing.

“China is a big power, we are only a small nation,” he said.

“But I think if you all have respect for each other in a quest for peace, I’m sure incidents like this can be avoided.”

Mr Albanese and Mr Marape’s meeting came as the two nation’s welcomed the start of their “Pukpuk Treaty” which was signed in October last year as a mutual defence treaty to strengthen ties between Australian and PNG.