Fiji, Australia downplay China missile test after defence pact

China launched a ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean yesterday just hours after Fiji and Australia signed a new defence treaty committing to assist each other in the event of an armed attack on either country in the Pacific. 

Republic of Fiji Military Forces Naval Division Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva confirmed Fiji had received an advisory that the test would take place within 24 hours.

"The Ministry of Defence shall be ready to provide advise if needed," he said.

At a joint press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, downplayed suggestions that the new Ocean of Peace Alliance and Vuvale Union were aimed at countering China's growing influence in the Pacific.

Mr Rabuka reaffirmed Fiji's foreign policy of being "friends to all, enemies to none", saying the new agreements would not threaten China's relationship with either Fiji or Australia.

"I do not expect China to have any severe pushback, and I believe that they will welcome the understanding that it is within Australia and Fiji," he said.

Mr Albanese echoed those remarks, saying the two agreements strengthened an already close relationship.

"This builds on the work that we've done over a long period of time standing side by side in peacekeeping missions. This is about our relationship but elevating it to the highest possible level of an alliance."

China's Xinhua News Agency reported the launch was part of routine annual training and was not directed at any country. It said the long-range ballistic missile, launched from one of its submarines, successfully struck "designated waters".

Mr Rabuka said Fiji's sovereignty would not be compromised under the new alliance, pointing to protections under the United Nations Charter.

"If anything threatens that sovereignty, we have the Vuvale partnership. We have our own regional solidarity to rely on as well as the world's understanding of the word sovereignty. I believe our sovereignty is secure.

"Our relationship is based on understanding, on dialogue rather than disputes. We will not take our differences to weapons. We will come to the conference table and work through that way to ensure that our sovereignty is respected."

Attempts to obtain comment from the Chinese Embassy in Fiji were unsuccessful before publication.