China’s navy conducted a test launch of a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on Monday, an event that has drawn concern and criticism from several countries in the region as well as the United States. The missile carried a dummy warhead, according to China’s official news agency, Xinhua. This marks the country’s first such missile test in the Pacific in two years and reflects its growing emphasis on expanding its strategic nuclear capabilities.

The launch took place at 12:01 p.m. local time and was described by Xinhua and the Chinese Defense Ministry as part of routine annual military training. Officials indicated that the exercise complied with international laws and was not targeted at any specific country or location. However, the test occurred within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, a region governed by the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga, which prohibits the testing of nuclear weapons within the area. China ratified relevant protocols in 1987, promising not to test nuclear arms in the zone or threaten signatories to the treaty.

New Zealand, which was reportedly notified hours before the launch, expressed its concerns through Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who emphasized the country’s longstanding reservations about such activities. Australia, Japan, and New Zealand also voiced criticism over Beijing’s continued militarization efforts in the Pacific region. The same day as the missile test, Australia and Fiji signed a mutual defense treaty aimed at countering Chinese influence in the South Pacific, underscoring regional tensions.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong condemned the launch as destabilizing, while Japan’s Defense Ministry called on China to reconsider its missile testing to avoid crossing Japanese territory or creating security risks. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara highlighted concerns about China’s military activities and lack of transparency, noting the strain on international security.

China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the criticism and urged other countries not to overinterpret the test. Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department spokesperson stressed America’s commitment to preventing nuclear proliferation, accusing China of expanding its nuclear arsenal at a rapid and secretive pace. The United States has sought more open discussions with Beijing on arms control and notifications regarding missile and space launches.

Analysts say the missile launch signals China’s shift toward a more diversified nuclear deterrent, extending beyond land-based delivery systems to include maritime-capable ballistic missiles. Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said China’s military expansion has been accompanied by insufficient transparency, heightening regional uncertainty. Lyle Morris of the Asia Society Policy Institute noted that while regional neighbors were informed prior to the test, the U.S. was not, interpreting the launch as a strategic message directed at Washington.

China maintains a declared policy of no first use of nuclear weapons but continues to advance its nuclear forces as part of its broader military modernization. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative, China operated six ballistic missile submarines and 59 nuclear-powered attack submarines as of late 2023. The U.S. Department of Defense estimated that China’s nuclear warhead stockpile reached approximately 600 in 2024, with projections to exceed 1,000 by 2030.