AI-written summary of reporting by ABC News Australia. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Koror, Palau, have issued a joint communique expressing concern about China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, which they said overflew several member states without adequate notice, though the consensus was incomplete, with Naoero formally dissenting and Kiribati unrepresented at the leaders' retreat.

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Pacific Islands Forum leaders register concern over China's ICBM test, with Naoero dissenting and Kiribati absent

Pacific Islands Forum leaders register concern over China's ICBM test, with Naoero dissenting and Kiribati absent
Sep 3, 2026, 4:54 PM

Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Koror, Palau, have issued a joint communique expressing concern about China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test, which they said overflew several member states without adequate notice, though the consensus was incomplete, with Naoero formally dissenting and Kiribati unrepresented at the leaders' retreat.

Context

PIF chair and Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr announced the consensus outcome after a retreat at his private residence in Palau's north, reading from the communique at the closing ceremony in Koror. The statement said leaders 'registered concern on the recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, which overflew a number of members without adequate notice' and called on all states conducting such tests to provide advance notification of at least 24 hours 'in accordance with international practice.'

The leaders' communique is described in the source as stronger than a statement issued by Pacific foreign ministers the previous month, which also called for 'transparency and reassurance' from China but did not reach a standalone statement on the test after Naoero and Kiribati blocked one.

Whipps told reporters after the retreat that Naoero had 'dissented' from the section criticising the test and that its position would be noted in the communique. Kiribati's President Taneti Maamau did not attend the PIF leaders meeting; the country was represented by senior official David Teaabo, described as Kiribati's recently returned envoy to China. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told journalists that Teaabo was not present at the leaders' retreat and said he was unaware of a Kiribati representative being in the room during the day.

An awkward moment occurred at the closing ceremony when event emcees initially failed to publicly recognise Teaabo alongside other senior country representatives before correcting the omission minutes later. The usual convention, according to the source, is for every PIF member to be represented at such gatherings.

All Perspectives
PIF Chair / Palau President Whipps: Whipps said a consensus had been reached in the final joint statement, reading from the communique that leaders 'registered concern on the recent intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, which overflew a number of members without adequate notice' and called on states to ensure 'transparency and reassurance, including through the provision of advance notification of a test at least 24 hours in accordance with international practice.' He also acknowledged that Naoero had dissented from that section and that its position would be noted in the document.
New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon: Luxon described the statement as a 'pragmatic' compromise and characterised the leaders' conversation over the test as 'unifying' and 'high quality.' He said: 'It was important that we have a statement in the communique … and I think we've got to a very good place. I'd sooner have a statement that summarises the vast consensus (for) everyone except for one (country).' He also said it was important to 'push back' against China's behaviour, adding: 'I don't want to see this normalised — when you fire a nuclear missile into the nuclear free Pacific… that's not something we want to see.' Luxon said Kiribati was not represented at the leaders' retreat and insisted there was no move to exclude them, though he did not explain their absence.
China's Foreign Ministry (spokesperson Guo Jiakun): Speaking on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun sharply criticised Palau, saying it was trying to 'sensationalise' the test and hold other PIF states 'hostage' to its position, adding: 'Its intentions are sinister, and its scheme will not succeed.' Guo stated that 'China never engages in military expansion' and said China was 'willing to work together with South Pacific countries to contribute to maintaining peace and stability and promoting development and prosperity in the South Pacific.'
Position not represented in the source reporting: Naoero — the source states only that it dissented; no Naoero government statement or rationale is quoted or paraphrased.; Kiribati — the source notes the country's absence and prior role in blocking a foreign ministers' statement but provides no position or comment from Kiribati or its representative David Teaabo..
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not state the specific date on which China conducted the ICBM test that prompted the communique.
  • The source does not explain why Kiribati President Taneti Maamau did not attend the PIF leaders meeting.
  • The source does not detail the precise wording of Naoero's dissent or state whether Naoero's objection will appear verbatim in the communique.
  • The source does not clarify whether David Teaabo participated in any portion of the broader PIF meeting outside the leaders' retreat.
  • The source does not specify how many PIF member states the missile test overflew or name them.
  • The source does not indicate whether China was directly invited to respond to the communique or what, if any, formal notification China provided ahead of the test.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. ABC News Australia — original

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