SOLOMON Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has condemned China’s ballistic missile test over the Pacific, declaring it was “not the act of a friend.”
In the Pacific’s strongest response to China, Wale warned that Pacific nations did not want major powers turning the region into a military testing ground.
“China is a good friend of Solomon Islands, but this is not something a friend does. This is not good in our region,” Wale said.
“As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, I registered my strong protest with the Chinese Ambassador yesterday. Solomon Islands has also lodged a formal diplomatic protest.
“We don’t want to see any country – China, America or anyone else – testing intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Pacific. Be our friend, but don’t threaten us.”
China’s test was made on the day Australia and China signed the Vuvale Union on security and policing. Beijing claims the test was scheduled and that it had informed Fiji in advance.
Last week Vanuatu signed a security deal with Australia, agreeing not to allow China to establish military bases in the former joint British and French territory.
Wale is the first Pacific leader to publicly criticise the missile test.
China test-fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a submarine and the projectile flew over several Pacific Island countries before landing in waters near Tuvalu’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Tuvalu is one of three Pacific countries – the others being the Republic of the Marshall islands and Palau – which have full diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Last week three Australian navy ships arrived in Tuvalu to begin a survey of ordnance left over in the Nanumea Lagoon at the end of World War II.
Beijing described the launch as a routine military exercise, but Australia, New Zealand and several Pacific leaders condemned the test.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the missile launch as “destabilising” and said Australia had already raised its concerns directly with Beijing.
“We have made clear our concerns to China in both Beijing and Canberra, and I am making those concerns clear here in Honiara,” Albanese said.
“We don’t want to see any action that undermines the peace, security and stability of the Pacific.”
He criticised China for providing only a few hours’ notice of the launch, saying international practice normally requires around 48 hours’ warning.
Sources: InDepth Solomons, ABC Pacific and other news sources
