Disagreement from some China-aligned Pacific Islands countries has prevented regional countries within the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) issuing a joint statement against missile testing in the Pacific. It is understood there was a majority of countries represented at the meeting who wanted a clear joint regional statement condemning such missile testing in the nuclear-free Pacific. Security agendaThe PIF Foreign Ministers Meeting was held to set the agenda for the annual Leaders’ Meeting in Palau later this month. A Solomon Islands proposal for a regional security treaty was one of the discussion points, although it’s clear more consultation is required on the matter. The Solomon Islands’ Foreign Affairs and External Trade Permanent Secretary George Hoa’au told RNZ Pacific that there was already a range of regional security mechanisms in the Forum fale.