On Monday, China conducted a rare submarine-launched missile test in the Pacific Ocean. This was the country’s first publicly known ballistic missile launch from a nuclear-powered submarine since 1982. Chinese state media confirmed the test, and several Pacific nations said they were notified in advance.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, the missile was launched at 12:01 p.m. local time during a routine military exercise. The report stated the test was not aimed at any country or specific target, and that relevant governments were informed ahead of time.
Pacific nations received advance warning
Japan and Australia confirmed they were notified before the launch. According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Papua New Guinea and New Zealand also received advance notice from Beijing.
“Yes, China has briefed me. I was personally called by the Chinese ambassador,” Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko said when asked if he had been warned.
A New Zealand government source also told AFP that China had alerted them about an upcoming intercontinental ballistic missile test. Officials, however, did not disclose where the missile was expected to land.
The launch occurred on the same day that China and Russia were set to begin their annual joint naval exercises near Qingdao, a major military port on China’s east coast. It is not clear if the missile test was connected to these drills.
Why submarine launches matter
This test is notable because it used a nuclear-powered submarine, which can remain underwater for months without refueling. Unlike regular submarines, these use nuclear reactors, allowing them to travel farther and patrol for longer.
Ballistic missile submarines are mainly designed for strategic nuclear deterrence. Because they can stay hidden underwater, they are very hard to detect and can be ready to respond if needed.
These submarines usually operate alone, not as part of carrier strike groups. This sets them apart from attack submarines, which often escort larger naval fleets.
Latest step in China’s expanding missile activity
Monday’s launch comes after another major Chinese missile test in September 2024, when the Rocket Force fired a missile with a dummy warhead into international waters near French Polynesia. Analysts said it was a Dong Feng-31 intercontinental ballistic missile capable of carrying a thermonuclear warhead.
The missile landed in an area protected by an international treaty that creates a nuclear-free zone in the South Pacific.
Chinese state media did not identify the submarine involved. Defense analysts believe the launch may have been carried out by a Type 094 ballistic missile submarine. China is believed to operate at least six of these boats, which can carry JL-2 missiles and potentially the newer JL-3 missile, a weapon with enough range to strike parts of the United States from waters near China. Beijing has also begun introducing the more advanced Type 095 submarine while continuing development of the next-generation Type 096.
Last month, AFP reported that an internal New Zealand Defense Force document warned that China’s increasing naval deployments and missile tests could become a “persistent” feature in the Pacific region.
Australia raises concerns over regional stability
Australia has said it is concerned that China’s long-range missile activities could raise tensions in the Pacific. “Australia has been clear with China that we regard this as destabilizing to the region,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters.
China confirmed Monday’s submarine missile launch just hours after Australia signed a major defense agreement with Fiji. This highlights the growing strategic competition in the Pacific as regional governments respond to increased military activity by major powers.