Key facts
- China conducted a missile test launch from a submarine in the South Pacific on July 6.
- Australia led an effort to issue a joint statement condemning the launch.
- Some Pacific island nations have shied away from condemning the missile test.
- The incident highlights divisions among Pacific island nations regarding China's military actions.
Pacific island nations are experiencing a division over a recent Chinese missile test conducted in the region, preventing a unified condemnation. Australia spearheaded an initiative to release a joint statement denouncing the launch, but some neighboring countries opted to avoid taking a definitive stance.
On July 6, China's military launched a missile carrying a training warhead from a submarine in the South Pacific. This action has exposed a lack of unity among the Pacific island nations, who are struggling to present a cohesive front in response to China's military activities in their vicinity.