Kiribati Criticizes China Over ICBM Test in Pacific Ocean

Kiribati Criticizes China Over ICBM Test in the Pacific

In a rare move, the Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has publicly criticized China for its recent launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in the Pacific Ocean. The Kiribati President’s Office issued a statement on social media expressing disapproval of Beijing’s actions, stating that the Pacific is not “isolated pockets of ocean” and does not welcome such tests.

China conducted the ICBM test on September 25, with the missile landing in the Pacific Ocean. While Beijing claimed it was for weapons testing and training purposes, neighboring countries like Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand expressed concerns over the launch.

Kiribati, which has close ties to China and hosts Chinese police, did not receive prior notice about the missile test. The Chinese Embassy informed Kiribati that there was no need to alert them as the test was not targeting any Pacific nation.

The statement from Kiribati’s President’s Office also called on all countries involved in weapon testing to cease such actions in order to maintain world peace and stability. The Pacific Islands Forum, consisting of 18 member nations, declared the region a nuclear-free zone decades ago.

The strategic competition between China and the United States in the Pacific region has intensified, particularly after Beijing signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands in 2022. China has become a major development partner for Kiribati since the nation switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 2019.

As Kiribati prepares for a presidential election this month, opposition leader Tessie Lambourne has criticized the incumbent president’s close relationship with China. All four candidates running for president are from the ruling Tobwaan Kiribati Party.

The statement from Kiribati reflects growing tensions in the region as major powers vie for influence in the Pacific. The criticism of China’s ICBM test underscores the complexities of geopolitics in the Blue Pacific Continent.