China missile test condemned by Pacific leaders

Pacific Island nations condemned China's July intercontinental ballistic missile test in a summit communique agreed Thursday in Palau, despite pressure from Beijing on the host country.

The Pacific Islands Forum statement, read by Palau President Surangel Whipps at a late-night news conference, called for at least 24 hours' notice of any intercontinental ballistic missile test.

The statement was agreed by 17 of the forum's 18 members. Naoero, formerly known as Nauru, dissented.

China gave only a handful of nations short notice before test-firing the missile in July. The missile landed in international waters near Taiwan ally Tuvalu and Naoero, angering Pacific countries with memories of past nuclear testing by the United States, Britain and France and with waters declared a nuclear-free zone.

The communique said leaders registered concern about the recent ICBM test, which it said overflew a number of members without adequate notice. It called on all states conducting ICBM tests to provide transparency, reassurance and advance notification of at least 24 hours in line with international practice.

Beijing said the launch was a routine part of China's annual military training and said relevant countries had been informed in advance.

Before the Pacific statement was issued, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun accused Palau of “maliciously hijacking” other forum members' positions. Whipps responded that the forum's message was clear and that transparency was needed.

The summit was also marked by friction over Taiwan. Palau invited Taiwan, its diplomatic ally, to the forum as an aid partner. Beijing claims self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory and objected to Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung attending the opening ceremony.