PM condemns 'provocative' China missile test

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has condemned China’s ballistic missile launch as a “provocative act” and “destabilising”.

Albanese made the comments standing alongside his Solomon Islands counterpart, Prime Minister Matthew Wale, during his trip to one of the Pacific’s key leaders.

“We don’t want to see any action that is destabilising or which undermines the peace, security and stability of the Pacific and the region,” Albanese said during a joint press conference in Honiara.

“There is no doubt that this is a provocative act by China, which does destabilise the region.”

He noted that China failed to follow the standard procedure of providing 48 hours’ notice over military tests.

Wale said the Solomon Islands had registered their “strong protest” against the test.

“We don’t want to see any more countries - China, America, anybody - we don’t want anybody testing the ICBMs in the Pacific Islands region. That’s the bottom line,” Wale said.

“Be our friend, but don’t threaten us.”

It comes after the Trump administration joined in rebuking China over the test, with the United States State Department saying it monitored the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) submarine test launch of the ballistic missile fitted with a dummy warhead, which splashed into the sea on Monday.

“At a time when the United States is working harder than ever to prevent nuclear proliferation, China is doing the opposite,” US State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott said.

“Beijing’s rapid and opaque nuclear weapons build-up is of great concern to the region and the world.

“We continue to urge China to engage in meaningful arms control discussions and commit to a regularised notification arrangement for all intercontinental-range ballistic missile and space launches consistent with commitments made by all other P5 members [permanent members of the United Nations Security Council].”

Missile flew over Pacific island nations

The nuclear-capable missile that China test-launched from a submarine flew over Pacific countries before splashing down near Tuvalu, according to a top Taiwanese official.

The Australian government condemned the launch on Monday, labelling it “destabilising” for the region but today was the first time the prime minister himself has spoken on the issue.

The secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, Joseph Wu, overnight posted an image to social media showing the flight path of the missile as it arched over the South Pacific, with a launch point in waters off China’s southern coast.

Wu described the test launch a “provocation” by Beijing.

“China just proved again to be a bully on the block,” he wrote in the X post.

China flexing military muscle: Marles

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the test launch was a blatant attempt to undermine regional stability.

Marles, speaking to Today on Tuesday, described the missile test as “destabilising” for the Pacific region, and a display of how far Beijing can project its military power.

“This is a long-range missile test which China itself said would be nuclear capable, which has been launched from a submarine, which also implies something in terms of extending China’s range to deploy nuclear weapons.”

He said the Australian government was seeking stability in the region, “but this is about undermining that”.

Beijing alerted Canberra about 12.30pm AEST on Monday that it would test fire the long-range missile within 24 hours.

The notice came a little over two hours after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart, Sitiveni Rabuka, signed the new Ocean of Peace alliance and the Vuvale Union in Suva.

Australia and New Zealand condemned the test missile launch, accusing China of seeking to undermine their efforts to build peace among South Pacific countries.

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But Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said it was a “routine” military drill conducted under international law.

“It is a routine military training activity that is not directed at any specific country or target. The countries concerned were informed prior to the launch.

“It is consistent with international law and customary international practice.

“The whole process was safe, standard and professional. We hope relevant countries will not read too much into it.” 

Marles said the federal government was building its defence capabilities as part of a wider response to growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

“You see us very much increasing our own defence capability, but also working very closely with our neighbours and our partners immediately around our our borders.”

Albanese will continue his diplomatic push in the Pacific today when he visits the Solomon Islands, with the aim of repairing relations between the two countries, as the prime minister, Matthew Wale, tries to reverse his predecessor’s shift towards China.

Then, Albanese will host the leaders of India, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga in Australia.