Despite surprise missile firing, China beats west? Pacific states scared of Xi amid Taiwan war fear?

China's July 6 submarine-launched missile test near Tuvalu and Kiribati has exposed growing divisions among Pacific Island nations. While Beijing described the launch as a routine drill with a dummy warhead conducted under international law, countries including Tuvalu, Palau and the Solomon Islands voiced security concerns. The Pacific Islands Forum failed to issue a unified response during talks in Fiji, highlighting diplomatic cracks as member states balance security worries with economic ties to China. Papua New Guinea also softened its initial criticism while reaffirming its One-China policy, underscoring the region's increasingly complex strategic landscape.