China launches long-range ballistic missile from nuclear submarine, prompting regional protests
China test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile into the Pacific, saying it was routine training, while Australia, New Zealand and Pacific nations condemned the launch as destabilising and a breach of the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone.
China’s navy launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, a test the state-run Xinhua news agency described as part of routine annual training that complied with international law. The missile carried a dummy warhead and was fired into international waters, a practice that is rare for Beijing but has been undertaken by the United States in the past.
The type of missile was not disclosed, but analysts said it could be either a JL-2 or the newer JL-3, the latter reportedly capable of ranges beyond 10,000 kilometres. The Global Times, a state-owned newspaper, suggested the JL-3 was the most likely candidate.
New Zealand’s foreign minister said the launch entered treaty waters of the South Pacific Nuclear-Free Zone, contravening the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga, which China ratified in 1987. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the test “a provocative act … that destabilises the region,” adding that the limited notice was “of real concern.” New Zealand’s foreign minister Winston Peters described the launch as “unwelcome and concerning,” while Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale said it was not the behaviour of a friend.
Experts noted the lack of transparency surrounding China’s military modernization. “China’s military modernization and buildup have occurred without concurrent increases in openness and transparency, resulting in uncertainty about China’s intentions,” said Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
The test comes amid broader regional militarisation, with China increasing its defence budget and expanding its nuclear arsenal, and neighbouring states such as Japan and the Philippines boosting their own security arrangements. Emma Chanlett-Avery, director of Political-Security Affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the launch “exacerbates already deeply strained relations between Beijing and Tokyo.”
