China's navy launched a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the Pacific Ocean on Monday, a rare test that has sparked concern among the United States and several countries across Asia and the Pacific over Beijing's growing military capabilities.
Military experts say the test highlights China's improving ability to strengthen its nuclear deterrence strategy. It was the second time in recent years that China has fired a ballistic missile into international waters.
Although Beijing informed some countries before the launch, several governments said the notice was too short. Analysts also warned that the test could further increase tensions as military competition continues to grow across the region.
China confirmed the launch only after it had taken place. In a brief statement, state-run Xinhua News Agency said the missile was fired into the Pacific Ocean as part of routine annual military training. It said the launch complied with international law and was not aimed at any country or target.
China did not identify the missile, but said it carried a dummy warhead rather than a nuclear one. While launches into international waters are uncommon, the United States has also conducted similar missile tests.
On Tuesday, Xinhua released a photograph of the missile but provided no further details.
Defence experts believe it was likely either a JL-2 or JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile, although available images are not clear enough to confirm the model.
China's state-owned Global Times reported that the missile was "most likely" a JL-3, which has a range of more than 10,000 kilometres (6,200 miles). The JL-2 has a shorter range.
New Zealand said the missile landed in treaty waters within the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, arguing that the launch went against the spirit of the agreement.
The nuclear-free zone was created under the 1986 Treaty of Rarotonga, which bans nuclear weapons across the region. China joined the treaty's protocols in 1987, promising not to test or threaten to use nuclear weapons against countries covered by the agreement.
Australia, Japan and several Pacific nations voiced concern over the launch.
China urged other countries not to "overinterpret" the test, but experts said the concerns were understandable because Beijing provided limited information about the launch.
Drew Thompson, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said China's military expansion has not been matched by greater transparency, creating uncertainty about its intentions.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said China had failed to give enough advance notice.
"There is no doubt that this is a provocative act by China which does destabilize the region," Albanese told reporters Tuesday while visiting Honiara in the Solomon Islands.
He said the launch involved a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile fired from a nuclear-powered submarine, adding that the world needs fewer nuclear weapons, not more.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters also described the launch as "unwelcome and concerning."
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale said China remained an important friend but added that missile tests were not welcome in the Pacific.
"We don't want anybody testing their ICBMs in the Pacific Islands region. Be our friend, but don't threaten us," Wale told reporters.
The test comes as China continues to expand and modernize its military under President Xi Jinping.
China already has the world's largest standing army and the biggest navy by fleet size. Although its nuclear arsenal remains smaller than those of the United States and Russia, Beijing has been increasing its stockpile of nuclear warheads while developing longer-range missiles and more advanced drones.
China's official defence budget is expected to reach about $270 billion in 2026 after annual increases of around 7% over the past four years. Independent analysts believe actual military spending may be significantly higher. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute estimated China's military expenditure at $313.7 billion in 2024.
Much of the region's security concerns are linked to Taiwan, the self-governed island that China claims as its own and has not ruled out taking by force. Beijing regularly sends warships and military aircraft near Taiwan, describing the missions as military exercises.
China's military buildup has prompted neighbouring countries to strengthen their own defences. Japan is moving away from its long-standing policy of limiting defence spending to 1% of GDP and plans to raise it to 2%. The Philippines has also expanded defence cooperation with the United States by allowing access to four additional military bases.
Emma Chanlett-Avery, director of Political-Security Affairs at the Asia Society Policy Institute, said the missile launch is likely to further strain already tense relations between China and Japan.
She noted that tensions have increased since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested last year that Japan could become involved in a conflict over Taiwan, prompting China to tighten export controls on Japan and accuse Tokyo of embracing "a new era of militarism."