Solomon Islands Leader Calls for Regional Pact After Beijings Missile Test

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale (R) shakes hands with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (C), next to Wale’s wife Veronica Ruala Waletofea, in Canberra, Australia, on June 3, 2026. Hilary Wardhaugh/AFP via Getty ImagesA Pacific-wide pact is needed to counter major powers such as China trying to flex their muscles in the region, the Solomon Islands prime minister says.China fired a nuclear capable long-range intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine on July 6 within hours of Australia and Fiji announcing a new defence alliance.Marking Solomon Islands’ independence day in Honiara, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on July 7 labelled the missile launch “provocative.”His counterpart Matthew Wale, who is also the chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, said he had registered his “strong protest” over the incident.“This is not something a friend does, this is not good in our region,” he told reporters.“That’s the bottom line. Be our friend, but don’t threaten us.”Wale said the incident underscored why a regional agreement in the Pacific was important.“In many ways the missile test is further evidence for the need for a regional platform so that the region can speak as one,” he said.“Not 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 a regional platform will allow cover and allow for much greater sharing of intelligence and information.”The leaders earlier held a brief bilateral meeting at the airport moments after Albanese touched down.The prime minister told Wale 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,’’ he said.Wale said he was extremely pleased to see 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.Australia’s prime minister said the federal government wanted to fast track negotiations on agreements with the Solomon Islands, but the process could not be rushed.Albanese became the first foreign leader to address the Solomon Islands’ independence day celebrations.He entered the national stadium alongside Wale and both were given floral garlands to wear.The visit to the Solomon Islands follows a new alliance struck between Australia and Fiji, known as the Ocean of Peace, in Suva on July 6.The alliance, which views an attack on one nation as an attack on the other, marks Fiji’s first mutual defence pact.The Pacific island nation has become Australia’s fourth formal ally, joining the US, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.The treaty allows other Pacific nations to join the alliance.The agreement was signed alongside the Vuvale Union, which includes $1 billion ($US694 million) in investment over the coming decade into key areas including climate and economic initiatives.During a joint press conference with Albanese, Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka on July 6 said he did not anticipate any “severe pushback” from China.“I believe that they will welcome the understanding that it is within Australia and Fiji,” Rabuka told reporters.“It does not threaten Fiji’s relationship with China, nor Australia’s relationship with China.“And as we have made it very clear in the past, your enemies are not necessarily my enemies.”By Tess Ikonomou in Honiara