China conducted a rare test-fire of a long-range ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, an action that has drawn immediate criticism from U.S. allies concerned over Beijing’s growing military presence in the region. According to China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua, the projectile was launched from a nuclear-powered submarine at 12:01 p.m. local time and successfully landed within the designated waters. The missile was equipped with a dummy warhead, though officials did not disclose the specific type of projectile or the exact impact location.
This event marks China’s first test of its kind since 2024, when the nation fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific for the first time in over four decades. The People’s Liberation Army Navy characterized the launch as a routine component of its annual training cycle, asserting that it was not aimed at any specific country or target. Chinese officials further stated that the test complied with international law and that relevant nations were notified in advance. The Chinese foreign ministry encouraged other countries not to over-interpret the military exercise.
Despite these assurances, the test has sparked significant regional pushback. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who was visiting Fiji to sign a major defense alliance, acknowledged that Australia had been informed ahead of time but condemned the act as destabilizing. She noted that the test occurs amid a rapid military buildup by China that lacks the transparency and reassurance expected by the region. Similarly, New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, labeled the launch an unwelcome and concerning development, emphasizing that Pacific nations have no interest in seeing the region used as a testing ground for missile capabilities.
The government of Japan also expressed serious concern regarding the test. According to reports from the Kyodo news agency, Japanese authorities were warned by Beijing on Sunday that space debris might fall within its exclusive economic zone. However, a government source later confirmed that the missile ultimately landed outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone.
