China conducts submarine ballistic missile test in South Pacific, drawing regional criticism
China launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific, prompting objections from Australia, Japan and New Zealand, while officials said the test was routine and compliant with international law.
China’s navy fired a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on Monday, a test that officials described as part of routine annual training and consistent with international law. The missile carried a dummy warhead, according to the state news agency Xinhua, which also noted that the launch was not aimed at any specific country or target.
Australia, Japan and New Zealand voiced criticism of the test. New Zealand’s foreign minister said the country was notified only hours before the launch and highlighted that the missile entered the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone established by the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga. > "It appears that despite our long-standing concerns about this type of activity, China carried out the test within hours of informing us," Foreign Minister Winston Peters said.
Australia’s foreign minister said the test was destabilising and that Australia had warned China of its concerns. > "Australia has been clear with China that we regard this as destabilising to the region," Penny Wong told reporters in Fiji.
Japan’s defence ministry expressed worry about the growing frequency of Chinese missile tests and urged Beijing to reconsider future launches that could overfly Japanese territory. > "China’s military activities, combined with its lack of transparency, have become a grave concern for Japan and the international society," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.
Beijing responded that other countries should avoid overinterpreting the launch. > "We hope that the relevant countries will avoid overinterpretation," a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said.
Analysts said the test signalled China’s expanding nuclear deterrent beyond land-based missiles and noted that the United States had not been notified in advance, unlike the three regional neighbours. The launch follows a recent defence pact between Australia and Fiji aimed at countering Chinese influence in the Pacific.
