China missile test deepens Pacific divide over militarisation
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China’s first ballistic-missile test into the Pacific since September 2024 has exposed the limits of Pacific leaders’ ambition for an “Ocean of Peace.” Pacific Islands foreign ministers failed last week to agree on a collective condemnation of the July launch, even as individual leaders voiced alarm. The test came hours after Fiji signed its first-ever defence treaty, with Australia.
The Missile Test
China fired a nuclear-capable ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean in July, its first known such test since September 2024. The launch occurred just hours after Fiji and Australia concluded a defence pact, Fiji’s first military alliance, underscoring Beijing’s willingness to project power at sensitive moments. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the test was conducted “safely” and urged against “over-interpretation.” Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko called the test “totally inappropriate,” telling Reuters that Beijing gave advance notice but withheld details of the missile’s landing zone.
A Region Militarised
The missile launch capped a year of intensified military activity across the contested Pacific, including Chinese naval deployments and live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea, as well as U.S.-allied exercises around Guam and Hawaii. The United States maintains a substantial presence in Hawaii, Guam, and the Marshall Islands, while AUKUS—the Australia-UK-US partnership—adds another layer of security integration. Tuvalu’s permanent foreign secretary, Pasuna Tuaga, voiced concern not only about the test but also about broader security arrangements, including AUKUS, saying they contribute to regional militarisation.
Ocean of Peace Vision
In September 2025, Pacific leaders endorsed the Ocean of Peace Declaration, committing to safeguard the region from major-power rivalry and to strengthen international peace. The July test, however, exposed deep divisions; more than a month later, foreign ministers could not agree on a collective response. The episode illustrates how great-power competition is eroding the declaration’s promise, with individual nations expressing alarm privately and publicly, yet failing to coalesce around a unified stance.
What's Next
Pacific leaders are scheduled to meet next month, with security and regional unity high on the agenda. It remains unclear whether the Ocean of Peace framework can survive the accelerating arms race between the United States and China in the Pacific.
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China missile test deepens Pacific divide over militarisation
