Pacific diplomats gathered in Suva, Fiji, on Friday, August 7, 2026, failed to agree on a joint statement condemning China’s recent test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile in the region. The missile reportedly landed in a patch of ocean between the Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Tuvalu.

The test, conducted last month with short notice given to only a handful of nations, sparked condemnation from multiple Pacific leaders. However, the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum has yet to issue a formal response.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters said after an hours-long meeting that the group had failed to agree on a joint statement condemning the launch. Pasuna Tuaga, Tuvalu’s Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Trade, emphasized on the sidelines of the talks, "We don't want to be intimidated by any powers."

Tuaga also noted the missile had landed "somewhere very close" to Tuvalu and that the country had requested assistance from several powers, including the United States and China, in locating the dummy warhead.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed hope before the meeting that China would take note of the "very clear response" already sent from the Pacific about the test.

The diplomats’ inability to reach consensus was attributed to disagreements influenced by "outside partners' wishes, rather than those that belong to the Pacific Islands Forum," with some expressing that "that's not the way that we want to be treated."

Foreign ministers and top diplomats from Pacific Islands countries convened ahead of the full leaders meeting scheduled for September 2026 in Palau.

Sources