China conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test in the South Pacific on Monday, with state media reporting that a nuclear submarine fired a missile carrying a dummy warhead into international waters. Beijing described the launch as a routine exercise, but the move quickly drew harsh condemnation from US allies in the region.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the test was destabilizing for regional security. Japan called on China to reconsider its actions. New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated, "We are deeply concerned about China's tests of nuclear-capable weapons in the South Pacific."

The test is believed to involve the Julang-3 (Giant Wave-3) submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile, which is still under development. It has a maximum range of 12,000 kilometers (7,400 miles) and can carry multiple nuclear warheads. The missile was likely launched from a Type 094 Jin-class nuclear-powered submarine.

Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Junshe, a researcher with the PLA Naval Military Academic Research Institute, wrote on social media that the missile is intended for strategic targets such as command centers, military bases, or energy infrastructure. He added, "Even if all other military weapons were to be put out of action, the Chinese submarine would still be fully capable of launching a nuclear counterstrike."

This is the second such test in less than a year. In September 2024, China launched an intercontinental missile from its mainland toward the South Pacific, the first test of its kind in over 40 years. Beijing claims that all neighboring countries were informed in advance and that the exercise was not directed against any specific country.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, speaking at a summit in Ankara, said the test was "further proof that we must not be naive." Felix Heiduk, head of the Asia Research Group at the German think tank Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), noted that China is aggressively challenging the US-led regional security architecture.

A June 2025 study by the Lowy Institute in Australia warned that "the PLA's missile force is China's most effective means of launching long-range strikes against Australia" and that bases in northern Australia would be prime targets in a major regional conflict. The submarine-launched test raises new concerns about China's ability to reach Australian territory.

Source: www.dw.com