A rare submarine missile test near the South Pacific has rattled nearby states and raised questions about Beijing’s regional intentions.
On Monday, China conducted a rare test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean, drawing concern from neighboring countries, notably New Zealand and Australia, which see it as a threat to regional peace and stability.
The PLA Navy submarine launched a missile with a mock warhead into the waters of the Pacific Ocean, which splashed down safely in the designated waters, said Senior Captain Wang Xuemeng, spokesman for the PLA Navy.
“This launch was a routine part of the country’s annual military training plan,” he added, noting that “the relevant countries” had been previously informed about the test.
The operation was conducted in accordance with international law and practice, and was not aimed at any particular country or object
– Wang Xuemeng
Regional reaction: New Zealand and Australia stance
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters called the test an unacceptable step, which took place in the South Pacific zone without the use of nuclear weapons. China signed Protocols II and III to the 1987 Rarotonga Treaty.
«Earlier today, China informed us of plans to launch a distant ballistic missile into the South Pacific»
– Winston Peters
Peters also noted that New Zealand regards such a move as undesirable and troubling and does not want to see the South Pacific used as a testing ground for China’s missile capabilities.
The New Zealand perspective emphasizes: we are not interested in using the South Pacific as a testing ground for missile capabilities
– Winston Peters
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the test as destabilizing for the region, stressing that the response should come from China rather than a simple explanation of its intentions.
It is necessary for China to articulate its own intentions
– Penny Wong
Peters also reminded that this test echoes events in 2024 when the PLA tested an intercontinental missile in the region. “We as a region must not allow such tests to become normal or routine,” he noted.
Context of missile tests and regional dynamics
Although missile tests remain a routine part of nuclear forces, this case underscores growing regional tensions. On the eve of other events, such tests have also been observed in various parts of the world: in September 2024, China conducted a test of an intercontinental DF-31B from Hainan Island in the open ocean near French Polynesia – the first such launch in 44 years. According to a December 2025 assessment by the U.S. Department of Defense, China typically conducts missile tests on its own territory, but in December 2024 it launched several intercontinental missiles from a training base in the country’s eastern region, demonstrating the ability to rapidly conduct multiple launches. The same report notes that the PLA’s forces view such tests as an option for medium-to-high-intensity nuclear deterrence operations.
Close attention should be paid to developments in the Pacific, where China continues to expand its fleet of missile-carrying nuclear submarines as part of a broader buildup of its nuclear forces. At the same time, regional countries seek more transparent explanations from Beijing about its intentions and testing practices.
In September 2024, China last tested an intercontinental missile DF-31B from Hainan Island in the open ocean near French Polynesia – the first intercontinental ballistic missile test in the open ocean in 44 years. According to the December 2025 US Department of Defense report, China typically conducts missile tests on its own territory, but in December 2024 it accelerated the launch of several intercontinental missiles from a training base in the eastern part of the country, showing the ability to conduct multiple tests quickly in isolated silos. According to the same report, the PLA’s forces view such tests as an option for medium-to-high-intensity nuclear deterrence operations.