China test-fires missile from submarine into Pacific Ocean

China's navy test-fired a missile from a nuclear submarine into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, state media reported. The launch drew concern from Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Beijing said the test was part of routine annual military training and that relevant countries had been informed in advance.

What did China say about the missile launch?

China's navy said a strategic nuclear submarine fired a missile carrying a dummy warhead into the Pacific Ocean at 12:01 p.m. Monday. The missile hit its target accurately in a designated sea area, spokesperson Wang Xuemeng said. Beijing called the launch a routine part of its annual military training program.

How did other countries react to the launch?

The launch drew swift criticism from nations across the region. Japan said it had urged China to reconsider the test before it went ahead. Papua New Guinea and New Zealand said Beijing had briefed them ahead of time, though neither confirmed where the missile would land.

Which nations did China inform before the test?

Papua New Guinea's foreign minister, Justin Tkatchenko, said the Chinese ambassador personally called to brief him on the launch. A New Zealand government source told AFP that China had also alerted officials about the planned test. Neither government disclosed the missile's intended landing zone in the Pacific.

Did the launch coincide with other military exercises?

The missile launch came as China and Russia prepared to begin annual joint naval drills off Qingdao, a major port city in eastern China. It was not immediately clear whether the missile test was linked to those exercises.

Is this China's first missile test in the Pacific?

China last carried out a similar test in September 2024, when its Rocket Force fired a dummy warhead near French Polynesia. Analysts identified the weapon as a Dong Feng-31 missile, capable of carrying a thermonuclear warhead. That launch landed in a patch of ocean designated a nuclear-free zone under international treaty.

How large is China's nuclear arsenal?

The Pentagon estimated China held more than 500 operational nuclear warheads as of May 2023. It projected that number could exceed 1,000 by 2030. Beijing has increased defense spending and expanded its nuclear program in recent years.

Why are Pacific island nations wary of China's tests?

Pacific island nations still carry deep scars from nuclear tests conducted in the decades after World War II. New Zealand's Defence Force has privately warned that China's naval activity and missile tests will become a persistent feature of the region. China has meanwhile expanded its influence there through new hospitals, roads and stadiums.