Peters urges Pacific missile condemnation
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said Pacific Island nations missed an opportunity to jointly condemn China after its long-range ballistic missile test over the South Pacific. He said New Zealand would continue pushing for a joint statement at the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Fiji, though the issue was politically delicate.
The missile launch had already drawn concern from New Zealand, which described it as unwelcome and worrying. Peters said the region had no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing ground for missile capability.
Key Events
- China carried out a long-range ballistic missile test over the South Pacific.
- New Zealand expressed concern and described the launch as unwelcome.
- Winston Peters said Pacific nations missed an opportunity to issue a joint condemnation.
- Peters attended the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Fiji.
- New Zealand pushed for a joint statement, but the issue remained delicate.
Pacific ministers weigh China missile response
Pacific Island foreign ministers were set to decide in Suva, Fiji, whether to issue a joint statement on China’s missile launch in July. New Zealand, led by Foreign Minister Winston Peters, was pressing for a collective response, but he said disagreement among members could block agreement.
The missile test alarmed regional powers and exposed divisions within the Pacific Islands Forum over how to respond to China’s growing strategic presence. Reports indicated that objections from some member states had already prevented the bloc from reaching a common position, despite continued discussion of a draft statement.
Key Events
- Pacific Island foreign ministers met in Suva, Fiji, on Friday to discuss a possible joint statement on China’s missile test.
- New Zealand said it was pushing for a collective response to the July missile launch.
- Winston Peters said the meeting would test whether members could overcome fixed positions on the issue.
- Peters acknowledged that disagreement among Pacific governments could prevent a joint statement.
- Earlier reports indicated some member states had objected to a strong draft statement, leaving the Pacific Islands Forum without agreement.