A submarine-launched ballistic missile of China's navy breaks above the water during a test in this undated photograph. (Wikimedia Commons)
China fired a nuclear-capable missile on Monday into the South Pacific Ocean, prompting complaints from Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that afternoon announced a ballistic missile test.
“The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy on Monday successfully conducted the test launch of a strategic missile by a submarine,” Xinhua reported.
The missile, carrying a simulated training warhead, fell in the designated area in the Pacific Ocean. Relevant countries were informed in advance of the launch, which was routine annual training and not directed against any specific country or target, the agency reported.
The missile test occurred hours after Australia and Fiji committed to a new defense pact in which each pledged mutual aid in the event they are attacked.
Government officials in Australia and New Zealand told local media about the missile test before it happened.
“Australia has been clear with China that we regard this as destabilizing to the region,” Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters in Fiji ahead of the launch, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Australia has been clear that this proposed test is in the context of a rapid military build-up by China, which is lacking in the transparency and reassurance as to intent that the region expects.”
“Pacific leaders have made clear they want the Pacific to be an Ocean of Peace. We believe this test is inconsistent with that objective,” she said, according to the report.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles also expressed concern, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
“We are very concerned about any actions which undermine the stability, the peace, and security of the Pacific,” he said.
China warned Japan’s coast guard of “falling space debris” ahead of the launch, according to a joint statement from several Japanese ministries on Monday.
“Japan conveyed its serious concern regarding the intensification of China’s military activities and strongly urged China to reconsider its plans,” according to the statement.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the test an “unwelcome and concerning” development.
“We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalized or routine. New Zealand will continue monitoring the situation in close coordination with regional partners,” according to national broadcaster Television New Zealand.
China launched an intercontinental ballistic missile carrying a dummy warhead into the South Pacific in September 2024.
In February last year a Chinese naval flotilla held live-fire drills in the Tasman Sea for the first time, disrupting civilian flights between Australia and New Zealand.
Stars and Stripes reporter Hana Kusumoto contributed to this report.
