Fiji, July 14 -- Australia says China's recent ballistic missile test over the Pacific was "destabilising", citing strong condemnation from Pacific leaders alongside Australia's response.

Speaking in an interview on Sky News, Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator Nita Green, said the Australian Government responded immediately after the missile test.

"We obviously made some strong statements from the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, my minister, Pat Conroy, as soon as this missile test occurred, to make it very clear that the Australian government was disappointed with the decision to test this missile in this direction.

"And we also wanted to express how destabilising this is for the Pacific region," she said " ...