The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has issued a rare and pointed criticism of China following the latter’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on September 25, 2024. The missile, which landed in the Pacific Ocean, raised concerns in several nations across the region, marking an escalation in strategic tensions between global superpowers in an area known for its geopolitical significance. Kiribati’s statement signals growing unease in the Pacific over the presence and actions of China, a nation with which it has developed increasingly close ties over recent years.
China’s ICBM launch, described by Beijing as a routine weapons test, involved the deployment of a missile carrying a dummy warhead. The test, according to China, was intended for training and assessment purposes. However, the lack of prior notification to Kiribati and other Pacific nations has raised alarm, leading Kiribati to speak out.
Kiribati, with its vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) spanning 3.6 million square kilometers (1.4 million square miles) in the central Pacific, issued a strongly worded statement through the President’s Office, emphasizing the nation’s stance on such tests. “Kiribati does not welcome China’s recent ICBM test,” the statement read. “The high seas in the Pacific are not isolated pockets of oceans, they are part of our Blue Pacific Continent and are parts of Kiribati.” The declaration underscored the importance of viewing the Pacific not merely as a series of disconnected islands but as an interconnected and environmentally sensitive area that is central to the identity and livelihoods of Pacific Island nations.
Kiribati’s criticism stands out, particularly given its deepening ties with China. The small island nation has pivoted toward China since 2019, when it severed its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in favor of Beijing. In recent years, China has played a significant role in Kiribati’s development, including redeveloping infrastructure and providing economic aid. Kiribati even allowed Chinese police forces into the country, signaling a growing relationship.
Nevertheless, the missile test represents a flashpoint. The Kiribati government revealed it had not been informed by China ahead of the missile launch, an omission that appears to have struck a nerve. The Chinese embassy reportedly justified the lack of communication by stating that the test was not meant to target any country in the Pacific, and thus Kiribati did not require notification. However, Kiribati’s leaders rejected this reasoning, calling on China to consider the broader implications of its actions on regional stability and peace.
The rebuke from Kiribati comes amid a chorus of concern from other Pacific nations. Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand have also voiced their disquiet over China’s missile launch. Australia’s government, in particular, has expressed apprehension over the potential for an arms race in the Pacific and the region’s growing militarization as a result of U.S.-China strategic competition.
Kiribati’s statement not only rebuked China but also touched on a broader issue: the perception of the Pacific as a strategic playground for external powers. The Kiribati President’s Office emphasized that the Pacific is not simply a collection of isolated waters but an integral part of what Pacific Islanders call the “Blue Pacific Continent.” This concept, championed by the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), seeks to frame the Pacific Ocean as an interconnected region, united by shared environmental, cultural, and economic concerns.
The PIF has long been an advocate of nuclear disarmament, and the region was declared a nuclear-free zone in the Treaty of Rarotonga in 1985. The recent missile test flies in the face of this long-standing stance and has reignited concerns about the militarization of the Pacific.
In its statement, the Kiribati government criticized not just China, but also other unnamed nations that have conducted weapons tests in the region in the past. This likely refers to both historic nuclear tests conducted by Western powers during the Cold War and more recent military activities involving missile tests by the United States. “We appeal to all countries involved in weapon testing to stop these acts to maintain world peace and stability,” the statement continued, highlighting Kiribati’s desire for a peaceful and stable Pacific.
Kiribati’s growing ties with China are emblematic of a broader shift in the Pacific region’s geopolitical landscape. Beijing has made considerable diplomatic and economic inroads in the region, offering development assistance, infrastructure investments, and economic aid to countries across the Pacific.
This push by China has been met with suspicion from the United States and its allies, who view Beijing’s expanding influence as a strategic challenge. The situation reached a tipping point in 2022, when China signed a controversial security pact with the Solomon Islands, allowing Chinese security forces to operate within the country and sparking concerns about China’s military ambitions in the Pacific.
Kiribati has also been at the center of China’s regional strategy. One of the key projects Beijing has been pursuing is the redevelopment of a disused U.S. World War II airfield on the island of Kanton, which is part of Kiribati. This move, coupled with China’s economic aid to Kiribati, has raised eyebrows in Washington and other Western capitals.
Despite these close ties, Kiribati’s recent criticism shows that the relationship may not be as seamless as Beijing would hope. The Pacific nation’s concerns about militarization and its assertion of its sovereign rights over its maritime territory reflect a desire to balance its relationship with China while preserving its national interests and regional solidarity.
The tension between China and the United States, as well as their respective allies, has escalated in the Pacific region over the past few years. Both superpowers are vying for influence in the area, which is seen as strategically important for global trade routes, military positioning, and resource access.
Kiribati’s criticism of China comes at a time when strategic competition in the Pacific is intensifying. The United States, in response to China’s growing presence, has been bolstering its own ties with Pacific nations, offering increased aid, security cooperation, and diplomatic engagement.
Australia, a key ally of the U.S. in the region, has also stepped up its efforts to counterbalance China’s influence, strengthening security partnerships with countries like Fiji and Papua New Guinea. New Zealand, while traditionally maintaining a more neutral stance, has expressed concerns over China’s military activities in the region.
The Pacific Islands Forum, of which Kiribati is a member, has been navigating these turbulent waters carefully. While some members, like the Solomon Islands and Kiribati, have embraced Chinese aid, others, like Palau and Nauru, remain steadfast in their support for Taiwan and closer alignment with the West.
Kiribati’s strong response to China’s missile test comes against the backdrop of an upcoming presidential election, set to take place later this month. President Taneti Maamau, who has been in office since 2016, is seeking re-election, and his Tobwaan Kiribati Party dominates the political landscape. All four candidates for the presidency are members of Maamau’s party, and no opposition candidates have been fielded for the presidency—a development that has sparked concerns about the state of democracy in the country.
Opposition leader Tessie Lambourne, who represents a more critical stance toward China, has voiced her disapproval of Maamau’s close relationship with Beijing. In the lead-up to the elections, she has called for greater transparency and questioned the absence of opposition candidates in the presidential race.
Kiribati’s parliamentary elections in August 2024 saw Maamau’s party retain a strong majority, solidifying its control over the nation’s political institutions. The upcoming presidential vote will be a critical moment for Kiribati as it navigates its relationship with China, regional tensions, and its own domestic political challenges.
Kiribati’s condemnation of China’s missile test highlights the complexities of Pacific geopolitics in an era of great power competition. As Pacific nations like Kiribati deepen their relationships with global powers, they face difficult decisions about how to protect their sovereignty, maintain regional peace, and secure their economic futures.
