Arabic version: اختبار صاروخ صيني يثير دعوات لمعاهدة أمنية في المحيط الهادئ

China fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile from a submarine that flew over multiple Pacific islands and appeared to hit waters close to Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone.

According to ABC News, Pacific Minister Pat Conroy said the launch damaged China’s reputation in the region and strengthened the case for a regional security pact. China called the launch “routine”, while Pacific leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticised it as “provocative” and “destabilising”. Mr Conroy said, “I don’t think this was conducive to China’s standing in the region,” and pointed to criticism from leaders in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Palau, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has been seeking support for the idea ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting, saying, “China is a good friend of the Solomon Islands, but this is not something a friend does.” The missile test coincided with Mr Albanese’s diplomatic mission to the region and came just hours after he signed a mutual-defence agreement with Fiji.

Mr Conroy said the incident underscored the need for Pacific-led security. “I think it demonstrates that the Pacific security can only be provided from within the Pacific,” he told ABC’s Insiders, adding that developing such an arrangement “would take a number of years if the rest of the Pacific was up for it” and that it would be a decision taken by Pacific leaders on a consensus basis.

He warned the region was experiencing “the biggest arms race, the biggest build-up of military since 1945” and said that was occurring “without any transparency or strategic reassurance.” Pushed on whether the defence force had the capability to protect Australia from a strike like the one launched by China, Mr Conroy said the government was strengthening Australia’s position through diplomacy and defence resourcing. He declined to be drawn on what he described as “hypothetical” concerns about a Chinese missile reaching the Australian mainland, saying: “We’re prepared for a conflict in our region. Everyone is working very hard to avoid it.”

What happens next: Pacific leaders are expected to discuss a regional security agreement at a meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum next month.

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