China missile test to dominate Pacific Islands Forum talks

China's recent test of a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile is expected to dominate talks when foreign ministers from the Pacific Islands Forum's 18 member states meet in Suva on Friday.

Beijing gave Pacific nations only a few hours' notice before test-firing the missile last month. The launch drew condemnation from several important regional players, but the Pacific Islands Forum has not yet drafted a formal response.

A formal statement from the ministers' meeting could focus on regional security without directly naming China or the missile test. Some member states with close ties to Beijing are expected to be reluctant to criticise China directly.

The meeting comes before a full leaders' summit in Palau in September. China is also expected to be a central issue there because Palau has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, the self-ruled democracy that Beijing claims as part of its territory.

Diplomats are also expected to discuss the forum's regional architecture, including which partner countries should be allowed to attend the Palau meeting.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters called this year's meeting "timely" and said the Pacific must "chart a common course". Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she hoped the region would come out of the meeting "stronger", citing economic challenges and a more uncertain geopolitical environment.