PM heads to the Solomon Islands after Fiji breakthrough
Anthony Albanese will attend Solomon Islands independence day celebrations as attention turns to a Chinese missile test in the Pacific Ocean.
The launch took place on Monday, just hours after Australia and Fiji signed a new mutual defense alliance known as the Peace Ocean agreement in Suva.
Chinese state media said the test involved a missile topped with a dummy warhead as part of annual military training.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said Australia had made clear to Beijing that it considered the test firing to be “destabilizing” to the region.
He confirmed that Australia had been warned in advance by China.
Mr Albanese will visit Honiara on Tuesday, where he will meet his Solomon Islands counterpart Matthew Wale to advance talks on a new deal.
Mr Wale has previously called for a Pacific-wide agreement.
The Peace Ocean Alliance, which considers an attack on one country as an attack on another, is Fiji’s first alliance.
Fiji became Australia’s fourth ally, along with the United States, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
The agreement allows other Pacific countries to join the alliance.
The agreement was signed in conjunction with the Vuvale Alliance, which will invest $1 billion in key areas including climate and economic initiatives over the next decade.
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told a joint press conference with Mr Albanese that he did not expect any “serious step back” from China.
“I believe they would welcome the understanding that it is within Australia and Fiji,” he told reporters.
“This does not threaten Fiji’s relationship with China or Australia’s relationship with China. And as we have made very clear in the past, your enemies are not necessarily my enemies.”
Later on Monday, Mr Albanese and Mr Rabuka attended an evening event at the Australian High Commission in Fiji’s capital.
The Prime Minister announced Australia would increase its investment in the Fijian Drua rugby team, but did not specify the amount.
