China's military test-fired a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific on Monday, state media reported, drawing criticism and concerns from Japan, Australia and New Zealand over Beijing's expanding military reach.

China has test-fired a nuclear-capable long-range missile with a dummy warhead in the South Pacific, Chinse media has confirmed.

It is China’s first known submarine-based missile test since 1982, and the first known to be fired from a nuclear-powered submarine.