Australia and the Solomon Islands have pledged to strengthen bilateral ties while condemning China's recent ballistic missile test in the Pacific, warning that the launch risks undermining regional stability.
Speaking in Honiara on Tuesday (7 July) after talks with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the launch as "a provocative act" that destabilises the region.
"There is no doubt that this is a provocative act by China, which does destabilise the region," Albanese said during a joint news conference.
Albanese said Beijing failed to provide the customary 48 hours' advance notice before the launch and expressed particular concern that the ballistic missile was fired from a nuclear-powered submarine.
China's state news agency Xinhua reported that a People's Liberation Army Navy submarine launched a missile carrying a dummy warhead into designated waters in the Pacific on Monday.
Beijing did not disclose the exact location where the missile landed.
The test prompted criticism from the U.S., Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Taiwan, while China's Foreign Ministry urged countries not to "over-interpret the matter".
Prime Minister Wale, whose government took office in May, said the Solomon Islands valued its relationship with China but opposed missile testing in the Pacific.
"China is a good friend of Solomon Islands but this is not something a friend does," Wale said.
"We don't want to see any more countries, China, America, anybody, testing intercontinental ballistic missiles in the Pacific Islands region. Be our friend, but don't threaten us."
The Solomon Islands has maintained close ties with Beijing since signing a security pact in 2022, a move that raised concerns in Canberra and Washington over China's growing strategic presence in the South Pacific.
Taiwan's National Security Council Secretary-General Joseph Wu said the missile flew over the Philippines before landing between Tonga and Nauru, about 1,000 kilometres from the Solomon Islands. Reuters could not independently verify that flight path.
Alongside security concerns, Albanese and Wale agreed to accelerate negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral treaty aimed at strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
Australia has intensified its engagement with Pacific island nations in recent months, signing new agreements with Fiji and Vanuatu as it seeks to strengthen regional partnerships amid growing competition with China.
Wale also said during a visit to Australia last month that his government would review the Solomon Islands' security agreement with Beijing, signalling a potential reassessment of one of the region's most closely watched strategic relationships.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume milita...
Prime Minister Burnham and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a Royal Navy base in Portsmouth, where they met British and Ukrainian troops taking p...
Russia's Supreme Court has prohibited the transfer of funds to Digimarket, a U.S.$35 million offshore company linked to Ruben Vardanyan, as legal proc...
Iran will halt its own attacks as long as the United States maintains its pause on strikes, but Tehran remains sceptical of U.S. intentions, a senior Iranian source told on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that there is a good chance” of reaching a deal with Iran, but warned that Washington would resume military operation if negotiations fail.
A New York school district has put plans to introduce a humanoid robot into classrooms on hold after fierce criticism from teachers, Indigenous community members and state education officials over the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called on Saturday for Russia and Ukraine to freeze the conflict and return to peace talks, saying a negotiated settlement remained possible despite the entrenched positions of both sides.
Prime Minister Burnham and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited a Royal Navy base in Portsmouth, where they met British and Ukrainian troops taking part in Exercise Sea Breeze. The visit underscored Britain's commitment to supporting Ukraine as the war with Russia continues.
A known Islamist suspected of driving a minivan into a crowd near a major LGBTQ Pride gathering in Berlin was shot dead during a police operation at an allotment garden complex, broadcaster RBB reported on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws introducing stricter financial requirements for foreign workers, as Moscow continues to tighten migration controls affecting millions of labour migrants, particularly from Central Asia.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has risen to 3,200, including 1,405 deaths, according to government data released on Sunday, highlighting the scale of an outbreak that continues to challenge health authorities and aid agencies.
The 27 July edition of Daybreak covers a pause in fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the latest developments in Russia's war against Ukraine, and mass evacuations as wildfires continue to spread across France and Spain.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment