Pacific Civil Society to Global Powers: The Pacific is an ocean of peace, not a battleground

Pacific civil society groups are urging global powers to cease treating the Pacific Ocean as a geopolitical battleground, emphasizing its profound significance as the foundation of their cultures, identities, and futures. The Pacific Regional Non-Governmental Organisations (PRNGO) Alliance issued a strong condemnation of a recent nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test by China across the ocean.

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The Pacific Ocean is far more than a strategic waterway; it is the foundation of our cultures, identities, livelihoods, and futures.

The alliance declared its opposition to all forms of militarization and nuclear threats in the Pacific, regardless of the state responsible. They stressed the hypocrisy of condemning actions by one power while remaining silent about similar actions by another. This includes opposing the U.S. testing of Minuteman III ICBMs, the expansion of military alliances like AUKUS, large-scale military exercises such as RIMPAC, and the growing foreign military presence and infrastructure across the region.

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We oppose all forms of militarisation and nuclear threats in the Pacific, irrespective of which state is responsible.

For Pacific peoples, this is not an abstract geopolitical contest but a direct threat to their home. The continued militarization serves as a stark reminder that the lessons of the past, particularly concerning nuclear history, remain unlearned. This year marks significant anniversaries, including the 80th anniversary of Operation Crossroads at Bikini Atoll, the 60th anniversary of France's first nuclear detonation at Moruroa Atoll, the 41st anniversary of the Rainbow Warrior bombing, and the ninth anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

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For Pacific peoples, this is not an abstract geopolitical contest. It is our home.

These anniversaries are not just historical markers but lived memories for Pacific peoples, underscoring that current security challenges are inseparable from the unresolved legacies of nuclear colonialism. The groups argue that genuine peace in the Pacific requires acknowledging, addressing, and learning from this shared history, asserting that another missile crossing their ocean cannot be divorced from this painful past.

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These anniversaries are more than moments of remembrance. They are also reminders that today’s security challenges cannot be separated from the unresolved legacies of nuclear colonialism, and that the pursuit of genuine peace in the Pacific must begin with acknowledging, addressing, and learning from this shared history.