Pacific Island nations should be wary of being misled from true partnership

At the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting — which concluded in Palau on Friday — an attempt was made by certain politicians such as Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr to express so-called "collective concern" regarding China's routine missile test activities.

However, the language failed to garner unanimous agreement among the South Pacific island member states.

This outcome demonstrates that attempts by certain countries to hijack regional consensus lack popular support.

In fact, this is not the first time Pacific Islands Forum member states have shown clear disagreement on this issue. During the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting held in Suva, Fiji, on Aug 7, foreign ministers similarly failed to issue a joint statement on China's missile test in July despite New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters strongly pushing for such a statement.

He even accused Pacific Island countries of missing an opportunity — only to be met with the same cold reception.

China has conducted three long-range ballistic missile test launches into the open international waters of the Pacific since 1980, while the United States has launched dozens since 2000. Not to mention the dozens of nuclear tests the US has carried out in the region, which have caused grave ecological and environmental consequences for local people.

Regarding the test launch on July 6, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense stated clearly that a Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy strategic nuclear submarine successfully launched a missile — carrying a training dummy warhead — into designated high-seas waters in the Pacific and the missile landed precisely within the target area.

Relevant nations were notified in advance of the launch, which was part of China's routine annual military training schedule, and the operation complied with international law and practice, and targeted no specific country or objective, the spokesperson added.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun reiterated at a regular news briefing on Friday that China remains committed to a path of peaceful development and a defensive national defense policy.

The hype surrounding this issue stems from certain political factions within Pacific Island nations that are heavily influenced by the US and its regional allies. Their aim is to cobble together a so-called "anti-China united front" and curb cooperation between China and South Pacific island nations.

China's cooperation with the island nations has challenged the vested interests of established Western colonial powers in the region, provoking obstruction and sabotage from forces led by the US.

China has always been a trustworthy development partner for Pacific Island nations. Over the years, the country has assisted these nations in building ports, roads, power grids, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure, fostering development, boosting local employment and significantly improving the lives of local people.

China has also helped these island nations address the urgent challenge of climate change by establishing special funds, launching demonstration projects and firmly supporting small island nations in upholding their climate-related rights in the international arena while urging developed countries to honor their climate commitments.

Pacific Island nations do not need to be "represented" by anyone, nor do they wish to be tied to the chariot of geopolitical rivalry. The attempts by certain countries to disrupt cooperation between China and Pacific Island nations by hyping up the so-called "China threat" are doomed to fail.

China stands ready to work with the Pacific Island nations to contribute to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region.

What the anti-China forces in the region and their external patrons truly fear is the awakening of Pacific Island nations to their right to independent development, and their subsequent pursuit of that very path.