Page 11 - Islands Business October 2024 edition

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expected sea areas. This test launch is a routine arrangement However, as the missile passed across the region, no
in our annual training plan. It is in line with international law warning was issued to Forum Island Countries – sparking
and international practice and is not directed against any critical reactions from Pacific leaders.
country or target.” Addressing the annual opening of the UN General Assembly,
The missile was launched from China’s Hainan Island, aimed Fiji President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere said: “We urge respect
just outside French Polynesia’s Exclusive Economic Zone for our region, and call for cessation of such action under
(EEZ). The missile flew high above the Philippines and Guam, principle four of the Ocean of Peace, as was endorsed by the
landing in the ocean near the Marquesas Islands, after a flight Pacific leaders in Tonga last month. Our statement reinforces
of 11,500 kilometres. the Pacific’s peaceful example to uphold international law
The timing of the missile test sent messages in all directions and urge others to refrain from actions that undermine peace
about China’s standing as a world power. It coincided with and security in the Blue Pacific.”
the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly The government of Kiribati, which has diplomatic ties to
session in New York, and also sent a signal to Washington, Beijing, said, “Kiribati does not welcome China’s recent ICBM
following the recent deployment of US Typhon midrange test”, noting “the high seas in the Pacific are not isolated
ground-based missiles in the Philippines, perceived as a pockets of oceans, they are part of our Blue Pacific Continent
strategic threat by Beijing. and are parts of Kiribati and therefore we appeal to all
The successful PRC test also sought to send a message to countries involved in weapon testing to stop these acts to
Chinese citizens that the PLA Rocket Force had overcome maintain world peace and stability”.
recent scandals (over the last year, three former Rocket Force Aligned with Taiwan, Palau President Surangel Whipps
commanders Wei Fenghe, Zhou Yaning and Li Yuchao have criticised Beijing’s actions, noting that “for a country that
all been purged by President Xi Jinping over alleged corrupt says it wants to promote peace, this doesn’t seem like a
behaviour, while the former Rocket Force chief of staff Sun peaceful activity”.
Jinming was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party). In Mā`ohi Nui / French Polynesia, President Moetai
Nuclear weapons analysts reported that September’s test Brotherson said he would contact China’s consul in Papeete
used an unarmed Dongfeng-31AG missile (this type of missile to raise “my disappointment at the fact that we were not
can be armed with either a single nuclear warhead or three or informed that this shot was aimed at our waters. The missile
four smaller warheads that can be released to attack multiple in question, which was obviously not armed, fell not far from
targets). Instead of being fired from a fixed missile silo, this our EEZ near the Marquesas Islands. I sent a message to the
ICBM can be moved around by road, to complicate targeting High Commissioner and the President of the Republic to get
by a US nuclear attack. their opinion on this test, to know if it was planned and if
China also has built more powerful long-range missiles such they had been informed beforehand”.
as the Dongfeng-41 and JL-3, which have ranges of more The French High Commission in Papeete later confirmed
than 13,500km and are capable of hitting the United States. that “the Chinese authorities had previously notified this test
The DF-41 carries up to ten independently targeted nuclear to their French counterparts”. However, Polynesie La1ere TV
warheads. reported that “obviously, the French State forgot to warn the
China has also developed the shorter-range DF-26 missile, President of French Polynesia.”
nicknamed “Guam Killer,” which is specifically designed to Ironically, on the very day of the test, French High
target military installations in the US Micronesian territory Commissioner Eric Spitz was attending a function to celebrate
such as Andersen Air Force Base and Apra Harbour naval base. the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
Reacting to last month’s test, Leland Bettis of the Guam- relations between France and China. His speech noted that
based Pacific Center for Island Security noted “the fact that “firstly, this missile carried an inert warhead, that is to say
the first ICBM launched into the Pacific just happened to pass without explosives. Then it fell into the international waters
over Guam is not likely a coincidence.” of the Pacific Ocean. Finally, the Chinese authorities had
previously notified this test to their French counterparts, who
Regional reaction will not fail, if necessary, to make their position known when
In a gesture of transparency, Beijing gave prior warning of the time comes”.
the test to other nuclear weapons states like France and the During his visit to Vanuatu in July last year, French President
United States. Emanuel Macron criticised the United States and China,
Describing China’s warning as “a common sense, arguing that there was a “new imperialism appearing, and
confidence-building measure,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina a power logic that is threatening the sovereignty of several
Singh acknowledged that “we did receive some advance states – the smallest, often the most fragile”. In reality, Paris
notification of this ICBM test. And we believe that was a good is reluctant to side with Pacific Island states on questions of
thing. That was a step in the right direction and it does lead nuclear disarmament – after the TPNW was endorsed by a
to preventing any misperception or miscalculation”. unanimous resolution from the Assembly of French Polynesia

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