Australia says China missile test in South Pacific was destabilising

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she raised concern with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi over Beijing's test of a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific, calling the launch destabilising during talks in Manila.

Wong spoke on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian ministers in the Philippines. She said Australia had made clear both publicly and directly to China that it viewed the missile test as destabilising.

The missile was fired earlier in July from a Chinese submarine and carried a dummy warhead. It reached far into the Pacific Ocean. Australia has said it did not receive enough notice of the test. A dozen Pacific Island countries have denounced the launch, saying it violated the region's wish to remain free of nuclear weapons testing. Monitors said the rocket appeared to land in the ocean somewhere between Solomon Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu.

Wong said Australia wanted a peaceful, stable and prosperous region where countries, including major powers, observed international law and the law of the sea.

Her remarks came a day after she criticised what she called China's dangerous conduct after a clash between Philippine and Chinese sailors at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea. Asked about that incident, in which a Philippine sailor was allegedly struck on the head with a baton, Wong said Australia had real concerns about behaviour it considered destabilising and risky.

During a visit to a Philippine coast guard vessel on Tuesday, Wong announced that Australia would donate 413 million pesos, or $6.7 million, worth of drone technology and operator training to the Philippine Coast Guard.