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Beijing calls the test part of a routine military program, while Pacific nations warn that the action increases tensions in the region...
China's navy has conducted a test launch of a ballistic missile from a submarine, sparking reactions from neighboring countries. Australia and New Zealand have called the test a destabilizing act that could affect regional security and peace.
According to an official statement from the People's Liberation Army Navy, the missile, equipped with a simulated warhead, was launched into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean and accurately hit the designated target at sea. Chinese Navy spokesman Captain Wang Xuemeng said the test was part of the regular annual military drills. He added that the operation was in accordance with international law, was not directed against any state, and that interested countries had been notified in advance.
However, these clarifications did not ease concerns in the region. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the launch took place within the waters of the South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, established in 1986 by the Treaty of Rarotonga. He called the development undesirable and concerning, stressing that Pacific nations do not want their region to be used as a testing ground for China's missile arsenal. Peters also recalled a similar test of an intercontinental ballistic missile conducted by China in 2024.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed this sentiment. She said the test should be seen in the context of China's rapid and not entirely transparent expansion of its military capabilities. She said the move did not come with sufficient guarantees about Beijing's strategic goals, for which countries in the region are demanding more transparency.
Ballistic missile tests are common practice for other nuclear powers, including the United States, Russia and India. However, China's case has drawn attention due to the lack of information about its weapons program. Beijing did not disclose the type of missile used, but the Chinese navy operates the JL-2 and JL-3 ballistic missiles. According to military analysts, the JL-3 model has a range that can reach targets in the United States if launched from the Chinese coast or from the South China Sea.
China has six Type 094 (Jin-class) ballistic submarines and is accelerating the construction of new nuclear-powered submarines as part of its expansion of its nuclear forces. According to US Department of Defense estimates, while Beijing usually conducts tests within its territory, launches in the open ocean are rare and are considered a demonstration of military capabilities, as well as part of China's strategy to strengthen its nuclear deterrence capabilities.
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