Foreign Minister Penny Wong has warned Beijing to heed the rebukes of Pacific leaders about a controversial ballistic missile test performed last month. China fired the ballistic missile that flew over islands in the Pacific from a submarine on July 6. The missile – armed with a dummy warhead – appeared to hit waters near Tuvalu’s exclusive economic zone.Alongside Australia and New Zealand, countries including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and the Philippines criticised the move, which China justified at the time as “routine”.Senator Wong, who is in Fiji for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), said she hoped China would “take note of the very clear response” from the region’s leaders. “It was a test which was destabilising and in a region where leaders have said we want an ocean of peace, it’s really important that partners respect that,” she told ABC Radio National. “And we would continue to encourage that respect. “In terms of the PIF, that’s ultimately a matter for the Pacific Islands’ foreign ministers.” Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy last month warned China’s test firing had bolstered the case for a regional security pact, saying: “I think it demonstrates that the Pacific security can only be provided from within the Pacific.”Senator Wong, asked about PIF discussions to further this prospect, said it would be “a point of discussion”. “There are many things we want to discuss, but obviously one of them is how do we make sure that our region remains peaceful, stable and prosperous?” she said.“And, how do we ensure the future of the region is determined by the people of the region?“One aspect of that is what leaders have said for a long time, which is security should be provided from within the Pacific.”Asked if there was support among her counterparts for a regional security agreement, Senator Wong said Australia was focused on “making sure we engage in the rebuilding of trust and rebuilding Australia’s reputation, strategic position in the Pacific.”Read related topics:ChinaPenny Wong