Foreign Minister Penny Wong has formally raised Australia's concerns about China's nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile test directly with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during bilateral talks on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in the Philippine capital, Manila.

The meeting, held on Tuesday evening, addressed one of the most significant flashpoints in Australia-China relations in recent months — a missile test conducted by Beijing in the South Pacific that drew swift condemnation from Australia and a number of Pacific Island nations.

Wong Calls for Transparency and Military Professionalism

In her opening remarks at the meeting, Wong emphasised that mutual understanding required frank dialogue, signalling Australia's intent to press China on the issue directly.

"You speak about the importance of mutual understanding. I agree, and I expect we will discuss our concerns ... including around peace and stability in our region, safe and professional military conduct, and the importance of transparency and reassurance of intent," she said.

Wong also noted the strong concerns expressed by many Pacific Island countries about the missile test, which took place earlier in July, and reinforced that Australia's position was broadly shared across the region.

Despite the tensions, Wong was careful to frame the engagement as consistent with Australia's broader approach to the bilateral relationship. "You've often heard me say that we will cooperate where we can and disagree where we must, and we want to continue to engage because we believe that is in our national interest," she said.

The Missile Test That Alarmed the Pacific

The incident that prompted the diplomatic confrontation involved a Chinese submarine-launched, nuclear-capable missile fired into the South Pacific, which is understood to have landed near the small island nation of Tuvalu. Australia was given only a few hours' notice before the test was conducted — a timeframe widely regarded as inadequate given the missile's proximity to populated Pacific territories.

The timing compounded the alarm: the launch occurred within hours of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signing a new defence alliance with Fiji. Albanese publicly labelled the test a "provocative act", with New Zealand, Tuvalu and Fiji all joining Australia in condemning the launch.

The rebuke from the region's leaders was sharp and personal. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale, standing alongside Albanese in Honiara in early July, declared the test was "not the act of a friend" — a pointed rebuke directed squarely at Beijing's conduct in a region where China has been actively expanding its diplomatic and strategic presence.

For a deeper look at how the test initially reverberated across Australia and its Pacific neighbours, see our earlier coverage of China's submarine-launched missile test and its impact on the Pacific.

Pacific Islands Forum Statement Delayed by Disagreement

Albanese had previously indicated that the Pacific Islands Forum would issue a strong collective statement condemning the test. However, disagreement among forum members over the precise wording of such a statement has caused a significant delay.

A foreign ministers' meeting of the forum is scheduled for August, at which point the missile test and its implications for regional security are expected to feature prominently on the agenda. The delay underscores the diplomatic complexity of forging a unified Pacific response to an increasingly assertive China.

What Comes Next

The Manila meeting between Wong and Wang Yi forms part of a broader pattern of cautious, sustained diplomatic engagement between Canberra and Beijing — one in which Australia has sought to maintain dialogue while still pressing China on matters of direct national and regional concern.

With the Pacific Islands Forum ministerial meeting approaching, and regional anxiety about China's military conduct still running high, the coming weeks will test whether diplomacy can deliver the transparency and restraint Australia and its Pacific partners are demanding. Follow our national coverage for the latest developments as the situation unfolds.