The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has issued rare criticism of China over last month's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, saying the Pacific is not "isolated pockets of ocean" and it "does not welcome" Beijing's action.

Kiribati has criticized China for its intercontinental ballistic missile test, emphasizing the Pacific is not isolated and opposing weapons testing. The test occurred without notifying Kiribati, straining diplomatic ties amid broader regional geopolitical tensions involving China and the United States.

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,

Kiribati’s Office of the President issued a statement on Sunday (Oct. 6), saying it did not receive any notification from China about the launch. The Chinese Embassy in Kiribati told the office the test “was not meant to target Kiribati or any other country in the Pacific,” so no warning was given.

The Pacific Island nation of Kiribati has issued rare criticism of China over last month’s launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), saying the Pacific is not “isolated pockets of ocean” and it “does not welcome” Beijing’s action.

The South Pacific nation was not alerted about the intercontinental ballistic missile launch in late September.

China conducted a rare launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with a dummy warhead that landed in the Pacific Ocean late last month.