Pacific diplomats gathered in Fiji failed on Friday to agree on a joint statement condemning China’s recent test of a nuclear-capable missile in the region, with New Zealand’s foreign minister accusing them of appeasing “outsiders”. It sparked condemnation from multiple Pacific leaders, but the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum is yet to issue a formal response to the test. New Zealand’s outspoken Foreign Minister Winston Peters said following an hours-long meeting the group had failed to agree on a joint statement condemning the launch. He accused them of appeasing “outside partners’ wishes, rather than those that belong to the Pacific Islands Forum”. “The majority of the Pacific Islands Forum did express concerns over China’s ballistic missile test,” she said.