China conducted a test launch of a submarine-launched strategic missile in the Pacific Ocean ahead of the NATO summit. While China claimed the launch was part of a routine military exercise, countries in the region, including Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, expressed concerns over China's military expansion and strategic intentions.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and the European diplomatic publication Modern Diplomacy, a strategic nuclear submarine from the People's Liberation Army Navy launched a missile equipped with a training warhead at 12:01 p.m. local time on July 6, targeting the Pacific high seas.
Wang Xuemei, a spokesperson for the Chinese Navy, stated on social media that the missile test was a regular part of China's annual military training and that relevant countries were notified in advance. He asserted that the test complied with international law and norms and was not aimed at any specific country or target. The Chinese military reported that the missile landed precisely in the designated area, but did not disclose specific launch locations, impact points, or missile specifications.
This launch marks the first strategic missile test aimed at the Pacific since China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in September 2024. At that time, the Chinese military launched an ICBM toward the Pacific for the first time in 44 years since the 'Dongfeng (DF)-5' in 1980.
While China described the launch as a routine exercise, concerns were raised in the region. According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government expressed serious concerns about China's military activities after receiving prior notification from China, urging a reconsideration to ensure Japan's safety is not threatened.
Australia and New Zealand also voiced their worries. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted that the test occurred amid ongoing concerns about China's rapid military expansion and lack of transparency regarding its strategic intentions, stating it could undermine regional stability. The New Zealand government criticized the use of the South Pacific as a testing ground for missile capabilities.
This test is seen as a demonstration of China's strengthening maritime nuclear deterrent. Submarine-launched strategic missiles, operated from stealthy nuclear submarines, are considered a core component of nuclear deterrence. Modern Diplomacy analyzed that the launch signals China's capability and willingness to project its strategic military power beyond its coastal waters into the broader Pacific region.
Notably, this launch occurred just before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, as the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, among other Indo-Pacific partners, are enhancing security cooperation in response to China's military expansion. Modern Diplomacy anticipates that regional nations will continue to monitor China's submarine operations and future missile tests in the Pacific, with this launch likely becoming a key topic in upcoming security discussions among the U.S., Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
* This article has been translated by AI.
According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency and the European diplomatic publication Modern Diplomacy, a strategic nuclear submarine from the People's Liberation Army Navy launched a missile equipped with a training warhead at 12:01 p.m. local time on July 6, targeting the Pacific high seas.
Wang Xuemei, a spokesperson for the Chinese Navy, stated on social media that the missile test was a regular part of China's annual military training and that relevant countries were notified in advance. He asserted that the test complied with international law and norms and was not aimed at any specific country or target. The Chinese military reported that the missile landed precisely in the designated area, but did not disclose specific launch locations, impact points, or missile specifications.
This launch marks the first strategic missile test aimed at the Pacific since China tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in September 2024. At that time, the Chinese military launched an ICBM toward the Pacific for the first time in 44 years since the 'Dongfeng (DF)-5' in 1980.
While China described the launch as a routine exercise, concerns were raised in the region. According to Kyodo News, the Japanese government expressed serious concerns about China's military activities after receiving prior notification from China, urging a reconsideration to ensure Japan's safety is not threatened.
Australia and New Zealand also voiced their worries. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong noted that the test occurred amid ongoing concerns about China's rapid military expansion and lack of transparency regarding its strategic intentions, stating it could undermine regional stability. The New Zealand government criticized the use of the South Pacific as a testing ground for missile capabilities.
This test is seen as a demonstration of China's strengthening maritime nuclear deterrent. Submarine-launched strategic missiles, operated from stealthy nuclear submarines, are considered a core component of nuclear deterrence. Modern Diplomacy analyzed that the launch signals China's capability and willingness to project its strategic military power beyond its coastal waters into the broader Pacific region.
Notably, this launch occurred just before the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, as the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, among other Indo-Pacific partners, are enhancing security cooperation in response to China's military expansion. Modern Diplomacy anticipates that regional nations will continue to monitor China's submarine operations and future missile tests in the Pacific, with this launch likely becoming a key topic in upcoming security discussions among the U.S., Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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