New Zealand branded a Chinese ballistic missile launch that terminated in the South Pacific “an unwelcome and concerning development” Wednesday, as news of the rare test jolted the usually peaceful region.
Beijing said it had test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile, firing it into the Pacific Ocean in its first such exercise in decades.
“We remain in the process of gathering further information” a spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters told AFP, saying “New Zealand views this as an unwelcome and concerning development.”
“Pacific leaders have clearly articulated their expectation that we have a peaceful, stable, prosperous, and secure region,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of the region, New Zealand strongly supports that expectation.”
The United States and China have been vying for influence across the South Pacific — opening embassies, inking agreements and doling out cash to Pacific island projects.