Overview
- Foreign ministers meeting in Suva could not agree a joint statement after China test‑fired a submarine‑launched, nuclear‑capable missile into South Pacific waters in early July.
- Kiribati and Nauru opposed a strong condemnation and effectively vetoed a unified response under the Forum’s consensus decisionmaking process.
- New Zealand and Australia pushed for a clear rebuke and for better launch notification, while Tuvalu said it received no prior warning and feared the missile could have caused a tsunami.
- The debate has accelerated talks on regional security architecture, including a Solomon Islands proposal for a security treaty and the Ocean of Peace initiative.
- The split highlights growing great‑power pressure in the Pacific, with recent moves such as Australia’s defence pact with Fiji and China’s increased engagement shaping member positions.