China has conducted a submarine-launched ballistic missile test, firing a nuclear-capable missile into the Pacific Ocean as part of a planned military exercise, according to state-run reporting.
The missile, which carried a dummy warhead, was launched on Monday from an unspecified Chinese navy submarine. The weapon “accurately fell into the predetermined sea area,” according to the Xinhua news agency, which described the activity as part of routine military training operations.
The announcement came shortly after officials in Australia and New Zealand confirmed they had received advance notification from Beijing regarding an upcoming missile test in the South Pacific. Both countries have previously expressed concern over Chinese military activity in the broader Pacific region, and said they were informed ahead of Monday’s launch.
Monday’s test marks the second time China has conducted a long-range missile test into Pacific waters since September 2024. At that time, the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force fired an intercontinental ballistic missile into the same region, according to the report.
Xinhua described the latest launch as part of China’s annual military training cycle, stating that “this routine missile test is part of China’s annual military training. Relevant countries were notified in advance.” The state media report further emphasized that the test “complies with international law and practice and is not directed at any specific country or target.”
The missile launch involved a submarine-launched ballistic missile, a system widely regarded as a central component of China’s nuclear deterrent capability. The launch platform was not identified, and no additional technical details about the submarine were disclosed in the report.
The test took place amid ongoing military developments in the wider Indo-Pacific region, where China has continued to expand its naval capabilities and conduct increasingly sophisticated weapons tests. The Pacific Ocean has also become an area of recurring military activity involving long-range missile systems from multiple states.
In addition to the missile test, Chinese military reporting has also indicated broader naval activity in the region. Chinese and Russian navies are set to hold annual joint military drills, according to separate reporting referenced alongside the announcement, highlighting continued coordination between the two countries’ armed forces.
Beijing’s notification to regional governments ahead of the launch was acknowledged by both Australia and New Zealand, although no further public details were provided regarding their assessments of the test. The coordinated communication reflects established procedures surrounding long-range missile testing in international waters, as described in the Chinese state media account.
The latest submarine-launched test adds to a series of strategic weapons demonstrations carried out by China in recent years, particularly those involving long-range missile systems capable of being deployed from sea-based platforms.
