Prime Minister Matthew Wale has strongly condemned a recent missile test that traversed parts of the Pacific region, describing it as inappropriate and concerning for regional peace and security.
The Prime Minister highlighted this when asked during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Honiara on Wednesday.
Reports indicate that the missile, which carried a dummy warhead, passed over the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several Pacific Island countries, including the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, and Kiribati.
It is understood to have landed near, or possibly within, the EEZ of Tuvalu, approximately 1,000 kilometres north-east of Solomon Islands.
Prime Minister Wale expressed deep concern over the implications of such actions for the region, emphasising the Pacific’s longstanding position as a zone of peace.
“China is a good friend of Solomon Islands, but this is not something a friend does. This is not good in our region,” the Prime Minister stated.
As Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Prime Minister Wale said he has also formally registered its protest regarding the incident.
“I have conveyed our strong protest to the Ambassador and Solomon Islands has also lodged an official protest note,” he said.
The Prime Minister reiterated the Pacific’s firm stance against military testing in the region by any nation.
“We do not want to see any more countries like China, the United States, or anyone else conducting intercontinental ballistic missile tests in the Pacific Islands region. That is the bottom line.”
“Be our friend, but do not threaten us,” Prime Minister Wale added.
Prime Minister Wale calls on all partners to respect the region’s security, sovereignty, and shared commitment to peace and stability.
