China’s military test-fired a missile into the Pacific Ocean from a nuclear-powered submarine on Monday, state media reported, sparking criticism and concerns from Japan, Australia and New Zealand over Beijing’s expanding military influence.A nuclear submarine of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy launched a missile carrying a simulated warhead into international waters in the Pacific at 12:01 noon local time, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. It added that the missile landed in “designated waters” but gave no further details on the specific location.Monday’s launch was part of routine annual training, complied with international law and practice and was not aimed at any country or target, according to a brief statement from Xinhua News Agency forwarded by the Ministry of Defense.Australian Foreign Minister Anthony Wong said China had informed the Australian government of the planned test, but called the launch “destabilizing” for the region. Huang told reporters that the test “comes against the backdrop of China’s rapid military buildup, which lacks the transparency and assurances expected in the region.”The test came hours after Australia and Fiji signed a major defense alliance on Monday, which commits the two countries to assist the other if either comes under attack. Beijing and Western powers, led by the United States and Australia, have been vying for influence over the strategic island nations for years, with China seeking to expand its economic and security influence in the South Pacific.Beijing and Western powers, led by the United States and Australia, have been vying for influence over the strategic island nations for years, with China seeking to expand its economic and security influence in the South Pacific.China maintains a “no first use” policy on nuclear weapons but is also actively developing nuclear technology and weapons equipment as part of its long-term strategy to modernize the People’s Liberation Army. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a Washington think tank, China has a fleet of six ballistic missile submarines and 59 nuclear-powered attack submarines.Mark Douglas, an analyst at New Zealand ship-tracking company Starboard Maritime Intelligence, said the test was planned in advance, noting that the timing of China’s notification, after Australia and Fiji signed the Ocean Peace Alliance, was “interesting to say the least”.When asked about the defense agreement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China hopes that relevant countries will respect the independence of island countries and not target or harm the interests of third parties.New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the country was deeply concerned about the test. “It appears that despite our long-standing concerns about such activity, China conducted this test within hours of notifying us,” Peters said in a statement. “New Zealand views this as an unwelcome and worrying development. We, like other Pacific neighbours, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing ground for its missile capabilities,” he said.The Japanese government said it had received notice of the missile launch and urged China to reconsider. “We are seriously concerned about the increased activities of the Chinese military,” Tokyo said, adding that Chinese authorities had notified the Japanese Coast Guard on Sunday of space debris that could fall into Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ).Responding to regional criticism, Mao Zedong said the launch was “safe, standardized and professional”. “We hope that relevant countries will not over-interpret this matter,” she told a briefing in Beijing.It is rare for China to launch long-range missiles into the sea. China last tested an intercontinental ballistic missile in 2024, a launch that highlighted the country’s growing military capabilities.
