Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised concerns over China's long-range ballistic missile test from a submarine during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both sides expressing concern about the development, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Thursday.
Concerns Over China's Missile Test Raised During Modi-Albanese Meeting
Answering queries during a media briefing on PM Modi's visit to Australia, Misri confirmed that the Australian premier brought up the issue. "Regarding the question about the ICBM launch, yes, this was raised by the Australian premier, and there was a certain amount of concern expressed about this development," Misri said.
He added that PM Modi emphasized India's vision for the Indo-Pacific. "The Prime Minister mentioned that we see the Indo-Pacific as an area where we would like to see peace, security, and stability," Misri stated.
Shared Interests in Indo-Pacific Stability
Misri highlighted the alignment between Australia and India on regional security. "Australia and India have shared interests and shared objectives in this regard and will continue to not only exchange perspectives on this but also intensify cooperation in various areas to ensure that peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific area continue to be met," he said.
China earlier this week conducted a rare nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile test in the Pacific Ocean, drawing criticism from Australia and New Zealand, which said the move could undermine regional peace and stability.
Details of China's Submarine-Launched Missile Test
China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) submarine launched a strategic missile fitted with a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean, with the missile landing in a designated maritime area. According to CNN, citing a regional source, the missile flew across the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Kiribati, and Tuvalu before landing near the EEZ boundary of either Kiribati or Tuvalu.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the test as "destabilising" for the region, saying it should be viewed against the backdrop of China's rapid military expansion. She said the lack of transparency and clarity over China's intentions was a concern for countries in the region, adding that Beijing would need to explain the purpose behind the test.
Discussion on Pacific Islands Cooperation
Answering a query about Australia and Fiji signing the Ocean of Peace Alliance, Misri said specific countries did not come up for discussion. However, he noted that cooperation between Australia and India regarding Pacific Islands issues did figure in the talks.
"We have, of course, the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation framework, and we undertake a certain number of initiatives through that framework. We remain in very close coordination and consultation with Australia through other mechanisms when it comes to taking forward cooperation insofar as countries of the Pacific Islands are concerned, including within the framework of the Quad as well," he added.
PM Modi is on a three-day visit to Australia.
