China test-fires missile into Pacific amid regional tensions

BEIJING: China has test-fired a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean, prompting concern among regional powers including Japan, Australia and New Zealand over Beijing’s expanding military footprint in the strategically important area.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy launched the missile, carrying a dummy warhead, from its submarine at 12:01pm local time (0401 GMT) on Monday, state media reported.

The projectile landed in designated international waters, according to official’s Xinhua news agency, which described the exercise as a ”routine arrangement” within China’s annual military training schedule and insisted it was not aimed at any specific country.

Notification follows new defence pact

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed that China had notified Canberra in advance of the test but labelled the launch “destabilising”. She noted that it came against the backdrop of China’s rapid military modernisation, which, she said, lacks the transparency and reassurance expected by regional partners.

The test occurred just hours after Australia and Fiji signed a major defence alliance committing the two nations to mutual aid in the event of an attack.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed deep concern, stating that Beijing had conducted the test within hours of informing Wellington. “New Zealand considers this an unwelcome and concerning development,” he said.

“We, like our neighbours in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability.”

Japan tracks launch, urges restraint

Japan also received prior notification and expressed grave concern over the increased Chinese military activity. Tokyo confirmed through official channels that the missile landed outside its exclusive economic zone and reported no damage to Japanese assets. A Japanese government source told Kyodo news agency that the launch was monitored closely.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning defended the test, saying it was carried out “safely, in a standardised and professional manner”. She urged regional countries not to “overinterpret the matter” and called on them to respect the independence of Pacific island nations.

The launch is one of the rare instances of China firing a long-range missile into the sea. It follows a similar intercontinental ballistic missile test in 2024 and comes as Chinese naval activity, including joint drills with Russia, shows an upward trend in the region, according to Taiwanese security officials.