China a ‘friend’, but stop the missiles: Solomons’ PM Matthew Wale

China’s “friendship” with the Pacific has been tested after test firing a ballistic missile only hours after Anthony Albanese landed a landmark alliance - Australia’s fourth-only - with Fiji.

Mr Albanese arrived in the Solomon Islands’ capital Honiara on Tuesday after dramatically signing the Ocean of Peace alliance –with Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka during a one-day visit to Suva.

However, fanfare around the signing was somewhat curtailed on Monday after China test fired a ballistic missile about 1000km northeast of the Solomon Islands.

While China maintains the launch was “routine” and consistent with international law, it comes at a precarious time in what Australian officials continue to describe as the “permanent contest” between Beijing and Canberra in the Pacific.

‘This is not something a friend does’

Mr Albanese has waged a diplomatic bitz in recent months, hemming in Chinese aspirations for the Pacific through the long-awaited Nakamal agreement with Vanuatu - which China attempted to scuttle last year - and pledging to further negotiations with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale.

Mr Wale, who came to power after a vote of no-confidence this year, has struck a somewhat more Beijing-sceptic tone after the island nation signed a secretive deal with China in 2022 that led to Chinese police being deployed there that same year.

Speaking in Honiara alongside Mr Albanese, Mr Wale said China was “a good friend of Solomon Islands”.

“But, this is not something a friend does. This is not not good in our region,” he said.

Mr Wale, who is currently serving as chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said he had “registered strong protest” with China’s ambassador to the Solomon Islands, Cai Weiming.

The Solomon Islands also lodged a “protest note”.

“We don’t want to see any more countries — China, America, anybody — we don’t want anybody testing the ICBMs in the Pacific Islands region,” Mr Wale said.

“That’s the bottom line. Be our friend, but don’t threaten us.”

Mr Albanese, responding to the missile for the first time, offered some of his sharpest rebukes of Chinese actions yet.

“We have made clear our concerns to China, in both Beijing and in Canberra, and I’m making our concerns clear here as well in Honiara, we don’t want to see any action that is destabilising or which undermines the peace, security, and stability of the Pacific and the region,” he said.

“There is no doubt that this is a provocative act by China, which does destabilise the region, and therefore we will put forward our strong view.”

Mr Albanese noted it was “standard procedure” for there to be 48 hours notice before a test.

Agreement with Solomons

The Prime Minister said he wanted to fast track negotiations with Honiara on a Nakamal-style deal “as soon as possible”.

He described talks on a deal, which are being led by Foreign Minister Penny Wong, as “constructive”.

Mr Wale has sought to deepen ties with Australia since his shock ascent to power earlier this year.

He has also agitated for a Pacific-wide security pact.

Speaking in Honiara, Mr Wale the missile test was, in many ways “further evidence for the need for a regional platform.

“So that the region can speak as one,” he said.

“All the countries in the Pacific are not all on the same level of strength, and may not want to speak up when things like this happen.

“But, the regional platform will allow cover and allow for much greater sharing of intelligence and information, so we can be advocating better for Pacific-wide issues.”

He said there were “gaps in the regional architecture”, including intelligence sharing.

“We watch with interest the agreement yesterday signed between Fiji and Australia with regards to mutual defense and so forth,” he said.

“Not all countries in the Pacific Islands have defence forces, so that’s something that will continue to consider.”

Mr Albanese also announced a $10.2m package of education support for Solomon Islands, including help in developing a road map to “free education”.

The Prime Minister also announced the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) Police Academy.

‘Right and responsibility’

In a speech likely prepared before China’s missile test, Mr Albanese praised Mr Wale, who has also sought a relationship reset with Canberra and a Pacific-wide security pact, as having “a vision to build a better life for each and every Solomon Islander”.

Mr Albanese said sovereignty was “not a condition that one country can bestow on another”.

“It is a right and a responsibility,” he said.

“Sovereignty, stability, prosperity and peace are not born of one moment in time. They are built, maintained and secured down the generations not just in the high principles of global forums but in the universal building blocks of a good life.

“A healthy family, a secure home, a safe community. The opportunity of education and the dignity of work. The connections to region, culture and the great blue Pacific.

“These are the continuing acts of independence that bring power, progress and sovereignty to individuals and nations alike.”

Mr Albanese and Mr Wale will host a joint press conference later on Tuesday.

Speaking earlier to ABC Radio National on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said China’s test was “destabilising for the region and raises the risk of miscalculation”.

“We do not believe this test is consistent with the view that Pacific leaders have very clearly expressed that the Pacific should be an ocean of peace,” she said.

Asked if the alliance, as well as other deals with regional neighbours, might antagonise China, Senator Wong said “we live in contested times”.

“The question that confronts Australian leaders (and) Pacific leaders is what do we do?” she said.

“What do we have to do to better most assure peace and stability for all our peoples?

“We do that by working to ensure that our futures are determined by the region. We do that by deepening, strengthening our relationships and our trust with the countries of our near region.”

Under the deal with Fiji, the two nations will “consult” on whether action should be taken if either country’s “sovereignty, peace, or stability” is threatened and requires both nations to recognise an armed attack on any nation within the Pacific would be “dangerous to each other’s peace … and declares that it would act to meet the common danger”.

The separate Vuvale Union, also signed on Monday, seeks to rule out third-party military bases in the Pacific.

Mr Rabuka has dismissed concerns his country’s alliance with Australia would anger Beijing.

Senator Wong said the Albanese government had shown a “singular focus on developing stronger relationships”.

“Which is all about more security for Australia and the Australian people,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the test firing by China reinforced Australia’s pursuit of strategic partnerships in the Pacific.

“What really matters here is understanding our strategic environment and then meeting it,” Mr Marles said.

“That’s why you see Australia significantly increasing our defence capability on the one hand, but also working with our friends and neighbours in our region and around the world to provide for the collective peace and security of the region in which we live.

“We are doing that in an unprecedented way. If you look at the agreements that we’ve signed with Indonesia, with PNG, we’re working on one with Solomons, with Vanuatu, now with Fiji, of course, we’ve got a strong relationship with both France and New Zealand.

PM arrives in Solomon Islands

Mr Albanese landed in Honiara on Tuesday where he will participate in the Solomon Islands’ independence day celebrations and a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Matthew Wale.

Just moments after Mr Albanese’s arrival, the two leaders kicked off the bilateral meeting.

Mr Albanese told Mr Wale that there was “much more that we need to do together” including “the development of a comprehensive treaty”.

“We will task our ministers to continue to do work on that and hopefully to conclude that by the end of the year,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Wale said he was “extremely pleased” to see Mr Albanese so soon after his own visit to Canberra in early June.

“We have much to transact, so we look forward to great conversations,” he said.

Mr Wale has repeatedly called for a region-wide security pact and has led the country’s tentative pivot away from China with which the Solomon Islands signed a secretive 2022 security agreement.

Senator Wong dodged questions about whether other countries in the Pacific might join the Oceans of Peace alliance, which grew out of Mr Rabuka’s urging at the Pacific Islands Forum for a “Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace”.

“There is an important discussion between Pacific leaders, Pacific countries about how is it we best work together to assure the peace and stability that we all want and that underpins our prosperity, and you’ve seen that played out in the various agreements,” she said, noting Australia’s alliance with Papua New Guinea and agreement with Vanuatu.

In a statement, China’s ambassador to Vanuatu, Li Minggang said China respected Vanuatu’s sovereignty, but that any co-operation “should not target any third party”.

“Any agreement that is exclusive or directed at China is firmly opposed by the Chinese side,” the statement said.

It continued: “The relevant party has already assured us that the agreement (between Australia and Vanuatu) is not directed against China.

It is urged that words will be matched by actions … it is hoped practical measures will be taken to eliminate negative impacts”.