Peters said China told New Zealand earlier today of its plan to launch a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific and then carried out the test \u201cwithin hours of informing us\u201d, despite \u201cour long-standing concern about this type of activity\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand considers this an unwelcome and concerning development,\u201d Peters said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe, like our neighbours in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability. <\/p>\n
\u201cLaunching ballistic missiles into the South Pacific is at odds with the spirit and intent of the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace. This missile was fired into the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone established by the Treaty of Rarotonga. China\u2019s action goes against the object and intent of that Treaty.\u201d<\/p>\n
Peters said New Zealand would speak with Pacific partners about the development as the leaders \u201chave been clear we do not want to see the region become a theatre for outside military competition\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cThis launch is not consistent with regional stability, and peace in the South Pacific,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also concerned that this now seems to be a recurring pattern by China, following its test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile into the South Pacific in 2024. We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalised or routine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with regional partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
It comes as the Australian and Fiji Governments today signed the Ocean of Peace Alliance, a \u201cmutual defence treaty\u201d, according to Australia\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs. <\/p>\n
Article 6 of the new treaty states that each party to the agreement \u201crecognises that an armed attack on any of the parties within the Pacific would be dangerous to each other\u2019s peace and security as well as the security of the Pacific, and declares that it would act to meet the common danger, in accordance with its domestic processes\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking today, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon acknowledged the agreement was \u201cnew\u201d but indicated New Zealand could become involved. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think New Zealand being in early would be a good thing … you would have an ability to ultimately determine which other countries could join from across the Pacific,\u201d he told reporters.<\/p>\n
Asked if it would aggravate China, Luxon replied: \u201cNo, really what it\u2019s about is \u2026 in the unlikely event that if Fiji gets, you know, attacked, Australia has said that they have an ally relationship and they would backstop them and vice versa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to reporters on Monday. Photo \/ Dean Purcell<\/p>\n
In February last year, Chinese warships carried out live-firing exercises<\/a> in the Tasman Sea, which led to airlines changing their flight paths.<\/p>\n Luxon at the time said China hasn\u2019t informed the Government<\/a> about their activity in the sea west of the New Zealand mainland. However, he said the vessels had been within international waters. <\/p>\n