Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleChina's navy conducted a rare test of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, marking its first such launch in the region in two years. The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, landed within designated waters, with China's foreign ministry stating it was a 'routine part of annual military training' and not aimed at any specific country, urging other nations not to 'overinterpret' the event. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Papua New Guinea immediately condemned the test, with New Zealand expressing concern that the missile landed within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone and Japan complaining about the short 90-minute notification period. Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, described the test as 'destabilising' for the region, occurring amidst a rapid Chinese military build-up and coinciding with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to Fiji to sign a mutual defence treaty aimed at countering Chinese influence. The incident highlights ongoing regional tensions and China's continued modernisation of its military capabilities, including its submarine-launched ballistic missiles which have the range to target significant parts of the continental United States. In fullChina hopes Indo-Pacific nations do not ‘overinterpret’ rare missile test in nuclear-free zoneMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
China sparks outrage with rare ballistic missile test in Pacific
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleChina's navy conducted a rare test of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the Pacific Ocean on Monday, marking its first such launch in the region in two years. The missile, carrying a dummy warhead, landed within designated waters, with China's foreign ministry stating it was a 'routine part of annual military training' and not aimed at any specific country, urging other nations not to 'overinterpret' the event. Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Papua New Guinea immediately condemned the test, with New Zealand expressing concern that the missile landed within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone and Japan complaining about the short 90-minute notification period. Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, described the test as 'destabilising' for the region, occurring amidst a rapid Chinese military build-up and coinciding with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to Fiji to sign a mutual defence treaty aimed at countering Chinese influence. The incident highlights ongoing regional tensions and China's continued modernisation of its military capabilities, including its submarine-launched ballistic missiles which have the range to target significant parts of the continental United States. In fullChina hopes Indo-Pacific nations do not ‘overinterpret’ rare missile test in nuclear-free zoneMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
