China Tests Missile, Australia Says Not Retaliation for Pact but Disrupts Peace

(Central News Agency, reporter Qiu De-zhen, Sydney, July 6) - Australia's Nine Network website reported today that Australian Defense Minister and Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles said he believes China's missile test in the Pacific was not retaliation for the security pact signed between Australia and Fiji. However, the Australian government also criticized China's actions as destabilizing to the Pacific region.

According to China's state media CCTV News, at 12:01 PM today, a strategic nuclear submarine of the PLA Navy successfully launched a strategic missile "carrying a training simulation warhead" into "relevant high seas waters in the Pacific Ocean," and it "accurately landed in the designated sea area." China claimed that this action "was notified to relevant countries in advance."

The Australian Nine Network reported that the Australian government received notification of China's upcoming missile test at 12:30 PM Australian Eastern Standard Time today (10:30 AM Taipei time), which was more than two hours after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka signed the "Ocean of Peace Alliance" agreement.

The news of China's missile test came shortly after the signing of the Australia-Fiji agreement, attracting the attention of Australian media. However, Marles pointed out that China's missile test in the Pacific was not in retaliation for the agreement signed between Australia and Fiji.

Marles said, "We (Australia) received notification from China today that they were going to conduct a test."

Although Marles believes China's actions were not retaliatory, he criticized China's move. He said, "This is a long-range missile test; we (Australia) are deeply concerned about any actions that undermine stability, peace, and security in the Pacific region."

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated that China's missile test is a destabilizing factor for the Pacific region and highlights the need for cooperation among countries in the region.

Wong said, "The Australian government's position is clear: this test was conducted amidst China's rapid military expansion, and China has not maintained the transparency and clarity of its intentions as expected by countries in the region (Pacific region)."

Wong added, "Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum have made it clear that they want the Pacific to be an ocean of peace." Wong criticized that China's action this time "is precisely the opposite of this goal."

The report mentioned that the "Ocean of Peace Alliance" is a newly established mutual defense pact that includes Australia and Fiji, with both countries pledging to assist each other in the event of an armed attack. They will also consult on threats facing the Pacific region.

The report also mentioned that Rabuka, the initiator of the "Ocean of Peace Alliance," stated earlier today that he believes China will not oppose the agreement and that Beijing will welcome it. He said, "It will not threaten Fiji's relationship with China, nor will it threaten Australia's relationship with China; and as we have made clear in the past, your enemy is not necessarily my enemy." (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150706

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